THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


»  Counting  out  some  money  he  gave  it  into  the  hand  ot 
the  young  girl."— Page  138. 


ALL  FOB  MONET, 


ALL  FOR  MONEY 


BY 

MARY   DWINELL    CHELLIS, 

AUTHOR  OF  "  THE  TEMPERANCE  DOCTOR,"  "OUT  OF  THE   FIRE,"  "AUNT  DINAH'S 
PLEDGE,"  "  OLD  TIMES,"  "  AT  LION'S  MOUTH,"  "  WEALTH  AND  WINE,"  ETC. 


NEW  YORK  : 

National   Temperance  Society  and  Publication    House, 
No.   58  READE    STREET. 

1879. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1875,  by 

J.  N.   STEARNS, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


ORPHANS'  PRESS,  CHURCH  CHARITY  FOUNDATION,  BROOKLYN,  N.  y. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTERS  .  PAGE 

I. — DRIFTING  .........      5 

II. — THE  TEMPTATION 26 

til. — A  GIRL'S  DECISION 48 

IV. — THE  PRICE  OK  MONEY 69 

V. — THE  CORNER  STORE 86 

VI.— THE  FAIRY  PRINCE 108 

VII. — PURE.  LIQUORS 129 

VIII. — A  BROTHER'S  REMONSTRANCE      ....      145 

IX. — THE  OLD  APPLE-WOMAN 171 

X. — A  LAUDABLE  INDUSTRY 193 

XL— POOR  PAT.        .  212 

XII. — A  MODERATE  DRINKER 232 

XIII. — DECEIVED 249 

XIV. — THE  WANDERER'S  RETURN 264 

XV. — A  REVELATION 281 

XVI. — AN  UNEXPECTED  MEETING 297 

XVII.— CONSISTENCY •  316 

XVIIL— RIGHT  AT  LAST 332 

XIX.— DECISION 345 


1260086 


ALL    FOI^   MONEY. 


.CHAPTER   I. 

DRIFTING. 

T  was  a  late  November  day.  The  snow 
fell  continuously  ;  while  fierce  gusts  of 
wind  swept  it  in  eddying-  whirls  through 
the  village  street.  Trees,  which  but  a  few  hours 
before  had  stood  like  sentinels  grim  and  tall, 
seeming  to  bid  defiance  to  the  elements,  now 
bent  and  swayed  as  the  blast  went  by;  and 
sharp  was  the  conflict  waged  between  opposing 
forces  wherever  a  leaf  clung  to  its  parent  stem. 
Winter's  herald  could  brook  not  the  tiniest  ban 
ner  which  had  been  unfurled  in  honor  of  other 
monarch  than  his  own. 

It   was    a   study  to  watch   the  quivering  and 
fluttering  of  a  faded,  battered  leaf,  still  battling 


6  All  for  Money. 

for  its  place  until  forced  to  yield  to  superior 
might.  Then,  torn  from  its  anchorage,  it  drifted 
hither  and  thither,  sometimes  finding  short  rest 
in  some  sheltered  nook,  and  anon  pursuing  its 
trackless  course. 

A  flock  of  birds  appeared,  poising  themselves 
lightly  upon  slender  twigs  and  drooping  shrubs  ; 
or  leaving  their  footprints  in  the  untrodden 
snow,  as  they  ate  daintily  of  the  grain  which 
summer  suns  had  ripened  for  such  as  have  neither 
storehouse  nor  granary.  A  moment,  and  they 
were  on  the  wing,  soaring  far  away  like  spirits  of 
the  storm,  fearless  of  danger,  obeying  the  in 
stinct  implanted  in  their  breasts. 

Hermon  Wyatt  had  been  gazing  for  more  than 
an  hour  upon  such  a  scene  as  I  have  described  ; 
his  troubled  thoughts  not  unfitly  represented  by 
what  he  saw.  He  had  fancied  himself  strong, 
when  circumstances  revealed  his  weakness.  Con 
science  had  held  him  fast  to  rectitude  and  hon 
esty  ;  now  temptation  assailed  him  and  con 
science  was  well  nigh  overpowered. 

He  was  not  one  to  see  the  similitudes  of  Na 
ture.  He  was  intensely  practical  ;  rating  truth 


Drifting.  7 

at  its  real,  rather  than  its  ideal  value,  and  count 
ing  that  of  little  worth  which  did  not  give  tangi 
ble  proof  of  its  existence.  But  even  to  him,  the 
drifting  leaf  and  soaring  bird  were  not  without 
their  significance. 

The  one  was  like  a  human  soul  Held  by  an  un 
certain  tenure  to  what  is  deemed  right  and  hon 
orable  ;  struggling  for  a  time  against  adverse 
influences,  but  surrendering  at  last  to  have 
henceforth  nor  stay  nor  shield. 

The  other  was  like  to  a  soul  stayed  securely 
by  a  firm,  unwavering  trust  in  the  Infinite  ;  loyal 
to  its  best  impulses  ;  passing  unscathed  through 
the  storms  and  ills  of  life  ;  thankful  for  such  as 
God  has  given,  and  finding  cause  for  rejoicing  in 
the  darkest  day. 

Something  of  this  found  its  way  to  the  man's 
consciousness  ;  and  turning  from  the  window,  he 
seated  himself  in  a  luxurious  arm-chair.  Before 
him,  upon  a  marble  slab,  were  vases  rare  and 
costly  ;  exquisite  pictures  set  in  quaintly  carved 
easel  frames  ;  shells  from  far-off  shores,  and  a 
clock,  whose  chime  of  tiny  bells  reminded  one  of 
fairv  music. 


8  All  for  Money, 

The  elegance  with  which  he  was  surrounded 
pleased  him.  It  told  of  ease  and  wealth.  It  re 
minded  him  of  the  position  he  desired  to  attain, 
and  money  seemed  to  him  the  one  good  in  life. 
The  relative  whom  he  was  visiting,  and  by  whom 
he  was  assigned  to  the  most  luxuriously  furnished 
sleeping-room  the  house  afforded,  understood  his 
character.  Yet  in  doing  this,  his  host  had  no  re 
gard  to  an  innate  love  for  refinement,  or  an  eye 
which  is  charmed  with  beauty  in  its  most  artistic, 
as  well  as  in  its  most  simple  forms. 

Not  thus  had  Nature  dowered  Hermon  Wyatt ; 
and  life  had  been  too  severe  a  struggle  for  him  to 
acquire  much  of  that  culture  which  develops 
esthetic  tastes.  It  might  come  to  him  through 
one  he  loved,  but  as  yet  his  higher  faculties  had 
not  been  quickened. 

He  had  accepted  the  invitation  to  visit  his 
wealthy  cousin  because  he  lacked  employment, 
and  knew  not  how  else  to  spend  his  time.  More 
over,  he  hoped  that  in  some  way  it  would  prove 
to  his  advantage. 

Sitting  here  in  an  atmosphere  pervaded  with 
the  warmth  of  a  glowing  fire,  he  had  ample  op- 


Drifting.  p 

fportunity  for  reviewing  the  past  years.  He 
recalled  his  childhood's  home ;  a  low-browed 
cottage,  weather-stained,  and  unrelieved  of  plain- 
'ness  by  the  slightest  ornament.  He  remembered 
how  close  was  the  economy  practiced  in  that 
home  ;  how  meagre  were  its  resources,  and  how 
weary  were  the  faces  into  which  he  looked  from 
day  to  day.  The  barest  necessities  were  all  his 
parents  could  afford  their  children  ;  and  even 
these  were  bestowed  almost  grudgingly. 

There  was  wrong  somewhere,  but  he  was  no 
philosopher,  to  determine  where  this  wrong 
might  be.  He  grew  up  with  a  bitter  hatred  of 
poverty.  He  esteemed  it  the  crowning  misery 
of  existence,  and  resolved,  at  any  cost,  to  rid 
himself  of  its  curse. 

Sunshine  and  gladness  are  possible  with 
limited  means,  small  rooms,  and  homely  living  ; 
but  to  insure  these  there  must  be  warm  hearts, 
tender  sympathies,  and  loving  deeds  ;  while  with 
out  these  there  will  be  gloom  and  unhappiness 
though  the  mansion  be  never  so  stately.  The 
best  gifts  are  such  as  the  poorest  can  bestow  ; 
costing  at  the  most  only  some  sacrifice  of  self, 


TO  All  for  Money. 

and  bringing  back  in  return  more  than  has   been 
given. 

If  but  the  world  would  learn  this,  how  much 
of  sin  and  wretchedness  would  be  avoided.  If 
but  the  man  whose  mental  disquiet  made  him 
far  too  restless  to  think  calmly  or  well,  could 
have  known  this,  how  different  would  have  been 
his  future.  Nine  years  before,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  he  left  the  country  town  in  which 
he  had  been  born  ;  and  with  only  his  resolute 
will  and  physical  strength  commenced  his  career 
in  a  large  city.  He  was  one  to  find  employment 
readily,  so  that  he  was  spared  the  trial  of  re 
peated  disappointments.  He  cared  little  where, 
or  how  he  commenced.  He  was  looking  to  the 
end,  and  not  for  a  moment  did  he  doubt  that  he 
should  reach  the  goal  toward  which  he  pressed. 

He  had  the  advantage  of  a  fine  personal  pres 
ence.  In  rustic  circles  he  had  been  considered 
handsome.  His  features  were  clear  cut  ;  such  as 
may  take  on  a  look  of  purity  and  spirituality 
which  is  in  itself  a  dower  of  beauty  ;  or  may 
wear  an  expression  at  which  one  involuntarily 
shudders. 


Drifting.  -  77 

Young  Wyatt  performed  his  work  faithfully, 
and  so  won  the  confidence  of  his  employers. 
Quick  to  see  and  do  what  was  for  their  advan 
tage  as  well  as  his  own,  he  was  promoted 
rapidly  ;  supplying  by  hard  study  the  deficiencies 
of  education  which  might  prove  barriers  to  his 
success. 

At  twenty-eight,  he  had  saved  a  few  hundred 
dollars.  This  he  invested  in  goods  which  he 
sold  at  a  fair  profit,  and  the  venture  proving  sat 
isfactory,  he  decided  to  engage  in  business  for 
himself.  He  bought  carefully,  and  discriminated 
well  in  regard  to  customers. 

It  was  no  fault  of  his  that  after  a  twelve 
month  of  prosperity  he  fell  upon  evil  times. 
There  was  a  financial  panic,  in  which  long  estab 
lished  houses  went  down  in  utter  ruin.  Men 
who  had  counted  their  wealth  by  millions  were 
not  sure  of  so  much  as  a  competency,  when  a 
final  settlement  should  be  made  of  their  affairs. 

Hermon  Wyatt's  old  employers  were  in  no 
need  of  clerks.  It  was  necessary  for  them  to  re 
duce  their  expenses  in  order  to  meet  the  emer 
gency.  He  could  not  return  to  the  country. 


12  All  for  Money. 

His  parents  were  dead.  His  brothers  were 
seeking  their  fortunes  in  the  far  west.  His 
sisters  were  married  to  men  with  whom  he  had 
no  sympathy,  and  for  whom  he  had  little  respect 
because  of  their  slow,  plodding  ways.  He  had 
no  friends  to  whom  he  could  apply  for  assistance 
even  would  his  pride  have  permitted  this. 

It  was  at  such  a  crisis  that  he  received  a  letter 
from  a  cousin  of  his  mother,  and  in  response 
presented  himself  soon  after  at  the  house  to 
which  he  had  been  invited.  Its  owner,  Leander 
Harvey,  Esq.,  welcomed  him  with  the  utmost 
cordiality,  while  the  lady  wife  extended  her 
hand  graciously. 

"  I've  been  intending  to  look  you  up  for  several 
years,  but  so  many  things  have  crowded,  I've 
delayed  it  longer  than  I  ought  to,"  remarked  the 
gentleman.  "  I  saw  your  name  in  the  paper  the 
other  day,  as  one  of  the  business  men  who  had 
done  their  best  to  live  and  then  been  obliged  to 
give  up  at  last." 

"  Yes,  sir,  that  is  the  truth  so  far  as  I  am  con 
cerned.  Except  some  personal  property  I  felt 
justified  in  retaining,  I  have  no  more  than  I  had 


Drifting.  /j 

when    I   started    at    twenty-one,"    replied   the 
visitor. 

"You  are  mistaken  in  that,"  was  said,  de 
cidedly.  "You  have  the  confidence  of  those 
with  whom  you  have  been  associated.  You 
have  established  a  good  business  reputation,  and 
that  is  in  itself  a  fortune.  I  read  as  much  in  the 
paper,  and  took  pains  to  find  out  that  it  was 
something  more  than  a  compliment  such  as  men 
pay  the  printers  for.  You  know  a  good  deal 
more  than  you  did  when  you  were  fresh  from  the 
country  ;  and,  judging  by  others,  you're  better 
looking  than  you  was  then ;  so  you're  not 
entirely  bankrupt  yet.  I  sent  for  you  because  I 
want  some  one  to  start  up  a  business  with  me, 
and  I  thought  you  were  just  the  man  to  do  it. 
I'll  advance  all  the  money  that  is  needed  and 
give  you  a  generous  share  of  the  profits  ;  enough 
to  satisfy  you.  I  propose  to  be  the  silent  part 
ner,  and  if  things  go  on  prosperously  you  will 
find  me  as  silent  as  you  can  wish." 

"  Thank  you.  One  could  not  ask  more  liberal 
terms  than  you  offer.  But  what  is  the  nature  of 
the  business  you  propose  ?" 


14  All  for  Money. 

The  two  had  been  acquainted  but  three  days, 
when  the  real  object  for  which  Mr.  Harvey  had 
sought  his  stranger  relative  was  thus  disclosed. 
They  were  in  his  library  ;  a  spacious  room,  made 
attractive  by  books,  paintings,  and  busts  of  dis 
tinguished  men. 

The  owner  of  all  this  looked  up  to  the  frescoed 
ceiling,  then  down  to  the  rug  at  his  feet  ;  then 
rose  and  peered  out  into  the  darkness.  He  had 
expected  a  different  reply  from  that  he  had  re 
ceived.  His  companion  was  courteous,  but 
evidently  cautious.  He  had  supposed  that  his 
offer  would  be  accepted  with  unquestioning 
eagerness.  Now  he  regarded  the  questioner 
with  something  of  doubt. 

"  I  should  not  propose  an  illegal  business,"  he 
said,  at  length. 

"  Of  course  not.  I  did  not  think  of  such  a 
possibility  ;  but  it  might  be  that  it  would  not  be 
suited  to  me.  I  may  not  have  the  ability  to 
manage  it." 

"  If  you  are  a  good  financier  there  will  be  no 
trouble.  Some  of  the  smartest  men  in  the  coun 
try  are  engaged  in  the  same  business  I  wish  to 


Drifting.  15 

establish,  and  there  is  money  in  it.  No  mistake 
about  that.  What  say  ?  If  I'm  not  mistaken  in 
you,  you'd  like  to  make  money  as  well  as  the 
next  one." 

"  That  was  what  I  aimed  at  when  I  left  home, 
and  what  I've  been  driving  at  ever  since.  I  got 
enough  of  poverty  when  I  was  a  boy." 

"  So  I  thought,  and  so  did  I.  You  begun  well, 
and  I  don't  doubt  but  what  you'd  gone  straight 
along  if  it  hadn't  been  for  these  hard  times. 
Now,  as  you've  given  up,  you'll  have  to  take  a 
new  start,  and  I  want  you  to  start  with  me." 

"  But  I  must  know  definitely  what  the  busi 
ness  is  before  I  commit  myself." 

"  Well,  that's  fair.  I  don't  blame  you  for  that, 
though  you  see  I'm  willing  to  take  you  on  trust." 

Here  the  speaker  went  to  a  cupboard,  took 
from  it  a  heavy  cut-glass  decanter,  and  poured  out 
a  glass  of  wine,  which  he  offered  to  Mr.  Wyatt. 

"  Thank  you,  I  never  take  wine,"  was  the  reply 
with  which  this  was  declined  ;  a  strong  em 
phasis  marking  the  adverb.  It  was  not  the  first 
or  second  time  he  had  refused  to  join  his  host  in 
quaffing  the  sparkling  liquor. 


16  All  for  Money. 

"  I'm  afraid  you  have  some  fogyish  notions 
about  it,  Cousin  Wyatt.  I  believe  in  temperance 
with  all  my  heart  ;  but  when  it  comes  to  for 
swearing  wine  as  though  it  was  a  sin  to  taste  it, 
I  think  that  is  carrying  matters  too  far.  There 
never  was  anything  gained  in  a  good  cause  by 
pushing  things  to  extremes.  People  crave 
stimulants,  and  they'll  have  them  in  some  form 
or  other.  For  my  part,  I  believe  that  the  pro 
hibitory  laws  which  have  been  enacted  from  time 
to  time  have  only  been  a  hindrance  to  the  tem 
perance  work. 

"  There's  something  in  the  breasts  of  freemen 
which  rebels  against  arbitrary  legislation.  Why 
should  a  body  of  men  say  to  their  constituents, 
'  There  are  certain  beverages  which  we  consider 
injurious  ;  and  because  we  have  the  power  in 
our  hands,  we  will  make  it  inconvenient,  if  not 
impossible  for  you  to  use  them.  We  will  make 
the  sale  of  such  beverages  illegal  ;  and  whoever 
dispenses  them  shall  be  held  amenable  to  the 
law,  as  having  committed  a  crime.'  That  is 
what  I  call  arbitrary  legislation.  How  does  it 
appear  to  you  ?" 


Drifting.  ij 

"  Not  as  it  does  to  you.  If  the  sale  of  intoxi 
cating  liquors  is  an  injury  to  society,  I  don't  know 
why  there  shouldn't  be  a  law  against  it.  as  much 
as  against  theft  and  robbery.  There  arc  thou 
sands  of  men  in  danger  of  becoming-  drunkards, 
where  one  is  in  danger  of  becoming  a  thief  or  a 
robber.  I  never  questioned  the  right  of  our  legis 
lature  to  regulate  the  liquor  traffic,  or  even  sup 
press  it  entirely  ;  although  it  appeared  at  our 
late  election  that  the  majority  of  voters  in  the 
State  were  opposed  to  prohibition." 

"That  was  plain  to  be  seen,  and  I,  for  one,  was 
thankful  for  so  fearless  an  expression  of  dissent 
from  the  powers  which  had  been.  It's  of  no  use 
to  legislate  against  public  opinion  ;  and  that  is 
not  yet  down  to  entire  prohibition." 

"  Many  people,  in  stating  that  fact,  would  say 
that  public  opinion  is  not  yet  up  to  prohibition." 

"  I  know  fanatics  would  say  that,  but  I  am  not 
a  fanatic.  I  hope  you  are  not  either." 

"  I  have  never  considered  myself  such,  al 
though  I  have  always  been  a  teetotaler.  I  have 
( noticed  that  young  men  who  commence  by 
drinking  light  wines  usually  end  in  drinking  any 


i8  All  for  Money. 

liquor,   no   matter  how  vile,  which   will   produce 
intoxication." 

"There  is  no  need  of  it :  no  need  of  any  such 
folly  as  that.  I  have  always  used  wine  in  mode 
ration,  and  brandy,  too,  when  I  chose  to  ;  and 
I  don't  think  any  of  my  friends  consider  me  in 
danger  of  becoming  a  drunkard.  I  buy  my  liquors 
of  a  friend  in  the  city,  and  feel  sure  that  I  get  the 
genuine  article.  He  is  an  honorable  man,  doing 
an  honorable  business.  He  takes  out  a  license  and 
does  everything  aboveboard.  Profitable  business 
too.  When  he  set  up,  ten  years  ago,  in  a  small 
way,  he  borrowed  every  dollar  of  his  capital. 
Now  he  is  a  wealthy  man.  If  a  man  wants  to 
make  money,  there's  his  chance." 

"  But  I  am  not  quite  prepared  to  admit  that 
selling  liquor,  with  or  without  a  license,  is  truly 
honorable  business.  I  suppose  you  allow  your 
guests,  as  well  as  the  community  in  general,  to 
express  their  opinions,  even  if  they  differ  from 
your  own." 

"  Certainly,  certainly,  Cousin  Wyatt.  This  is 
a  free  country;  and  because  a  man  sits  at  my 
table,  and  lodges  under  my  roof,  that  is  no 


n.  ifting.  ig 

reason  why  he  should  indorse  my  views.  I'm 
glad  of  an  opportunity  to  talk  with  you  on  this 
subject.  Within  the  past  few  months  it  has  been 
kept  betore  the  public  so  persistently  that  every 
thinking  man  must  have  considered  it.  Do  I 
understand  you  to  say  that  you  are  in  favor  of  a 
stringent  prohibitory  law  ?" 

"  I  voted  for  men  whom  I  knew  to  be  in  favor 
of  such  a  law." 

"And  were  you  sorry  that  they  were  de 
feated  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  considered  it  a  misfortune." 

For  a  moment  an  angry  flush  overspread  the 
face  of  Mr.  Harvey  ;  but  he  had  too  much  self- 
control  to  allow  this  manifestation  to  continue 
long. 

Soon  he  said,  blandly  :  "  We  are  at  variance 
in  this.  You  have  a  right  to  differ  from  me,  and 
I  from  you.  It  looks  to  me  as  though  the  radi 
cal  wing  of  the  temperance  party  killed  their 
own  measure.  They  tried  to  make  the  liquor 
traffic  so  odious  in  the  eyes  of  the  community 
that  clear-sighted  men  began  to  look  about  and 
see  what  were  the  real  facts  in  the  case.  Why, 


2O  All  for  Money. 

my  friend,  who  is  the  very  soul  of  honor  and  a 
Christian  gentleman,  has  been  stigmatized  as 
an  unscrupulous  wretch,  making  merchandise  of 
the  souls  and  bodies  of  his  customers.  That  was 
the  style  in  which  the  fanatics  talked,  Cousin 
Wyatt." 

"  And  no  doubt  they  felt  they  were  speaking  the 
truth.  They  expressed  their  opinion  fearlessly." 

"  And  recklessly.  A  man  should  stop  and 
consider  before  he  accuses  another  of  crime. 
The  sale  of  liquors  brings  an  immense  revenue 
to  the  government,  and  is  recognized  as  a 
legitimate  traffic.  So  long  as  that  is  the  case, 
I  think  we  may  as  well  accept  the  government  as 
good  authority.  I  have  no  desire  to  set  myself 
up  as  an  infallible  teacher  for  those  whose  wisdom 
and  judgment  are  superior  to  my  own.  So  long 
as  our  government  accepts  a  revenue  from  any 
business,  it  is  plain  enough  to  me  that  none  of 
our  citizens  have  cause  to  consider  themselves 
disgraced  by  engaging  in  it.  If  it  was  entirely 
abandoned,  how  would  the  expenses  of  govern 
ment  be  met  ?  Our  revenue  is  none  too  large  as 
it  is." 


Drifting.  21 

"  But  if  the  amount  of  capital  now  invested  in 
the  liquor  traffic  were  invested  elsewhere,  our 
country  would  he  none  the  poorer.  Neither  can 
any  one  deny  that  if  the  money  now  spent  for 
liquor  by  the  masses  were  spent  for  necessary 
articles  of  food  and  clothing,  there  would  be  a 
vast  amount  of  comfort  and  happiness  where 
there  is  now  poverty  and  wretchedness.  I  have 
been  accustomed  to  consider  intoxicating  liquor 
the  curse  of  our  land." 

"  The  abuse  of  it  may  be.  I  am  not  arguing 
for  an  indiscriminate  use  of  liquor.  No  man  is 
obliged  to  use  it.  In  all  departments  of  trade 
the  supply  is  in  direct  ratio  to  the  demand.  If 
flour  is  demanded,  wheat  will  be  grown  and 
manufactured  into  flour.  The  farmer  will  do  his 
part  towards  providing  for  the  wants  of  the 
community  ;  the  miller  will  do  his,  and  the 
merchant  his.  If  our  people  chose  to  take  the 
grain  as  it  comes  from  the  threshing  machine, 
the  miller's  occupation  would  be  gone.  Then, 
if  we  all  chose  to  buy  our  grain  direct  from  the 
farmer,  there  would  be  no  place  for  the  merchant. 
If  no  one  cared  for  grain  or  flour,  how  long  do 


22  .     All  for  Money. 

you  suppose  the  farmer  would  raise  grain  ?  Now, 
is  not  the  supply  of  liquor  regulated  by  the 
demand  for  it,  the  same  as  any  other  article  of 
traffic  ?  Please  answer  that  question,  Cousin 
Wyatt,"  added  Mr.  Harvey,  with  the  air  of  a  man 
sure  of  his  position. 

"  The  farmer  would  not  raise  grain,  unless  he 
desired  it  for  home  consumption,  or  could  dispose 
of  it  at  a  remunerative  price,"  was  the  prompt 
reply  to  one  question,  while  the  second  was 
ignored. 

"  Of  course  he  wouldn't.  Now,  by  the  same 
process  of  reasoning,  I  can  show  that  the  liquor 
traffic  is  a  natural  outgrowth  of  the  wants  of  the 
community.  The  appetite  for  stimulants  is  uni 
versal,  and  the  means  of  gratifying  this  appetite 
is  confined  to  no  country  or  zone.  To  come 
back  to  first  principles,  1  appeal  to  you,  as  a 
sensible  man,  if  the  proper  indulgence  of  an 
appetite  which  is  as  natural  as  the  appetite  for 
food,  can,  by  any  sophistry,  be  made  to  appear  a 
sin  ?  That  is  just  the  point  to  be  considered  in 
this  matter." 

"  That  may  be,  Mr.  Harvey  ;  but  many  of  our 


Drifting.  23 

most  intelligent  men  and  women  would  dissent 
entirely  from  your  assertion  that  the  appetite  for 
alcoholic  stimulants  is  universal  and  natural.  I 
am  a  living  witness  to  the  contrary.  I  am 
satisfied  with  cold  water  and  milk." 

"  Yet  you  drink  tea  and  coffee." 

"  I  do  here,  but  I  never  drank  either  at  home, 
nor  while  I  have  been  boarding." 

"  You  would  soon  learn  to  care  for  both,  and 
depend  upon  them,  too,  if  you  should  use  them 
every  day." 

"  I  presume  I  should  ;  and  if  I  should  drink  a 
glass  of  wine  every  day  for  three  months,  I 
should  learn  to  care  for  it.  I  have  no  natural 
appetite  for  coffee  or  wine." 

"  Well,  then,  you  are  an  exception  to 
the  general  rule.  A  large  majority  of  men 
would  testify  on  my  side,"  said  the  host,  will 
ing  now  to  waive  further  discussion  of  this 
point. 

"  It  may  be  that  is  true.  I  know  very  well 
that  the  majority  of  men  use  liquors  more  or 
less  moderately.  It  seems  strange  to  me,  and 
stranger  still  that  a  sensible  man  will  allow 


24  All  for  Money. 

himself  to  become  such  a  slave  to  any  appetite, 
as  the  drunkard  is." 

"  It  is  strange.  I  agree  with  you.  I  never  can 
look  upon  a  drunkard  without  a  feeling  of 
disgust." 

"  Then,  Cousin  Harvey,  how  can  you  object  to 
a  suppression  of  the  traffic  which  makes  drunk 
ards  ?" 

The  gentleman  to  whom  this  question  was 
addressed  heard  it  with  profound  astonishment. 
He  did  not  reply  at  once.  He  desired  time  for 
consideration,  and  made  no  apology  for  a  pro 
tracted  silence. 

At  length  he  turned  to  his  guest  and  said 
deliberately  :  "  I  make  no  pretensions  to  more 
goodness  than  other  people  possess.  I  have 
money  which  I  wish  to  invest  where  it  will  bring 
me  large  returns,  and  you  are  out  of  business. 
There's  a  well  located,  first-class  liquor  store 
to  be  sold  in  twenty  days.  If  you  will  appear  as 
its  purchaser  and  conduct  the  business,  I  will 
advance  the  necessary  funds.  You  shall  receive 
such  a  per  centage  of  the  profits  as  will  satisfy 
you,  and  in  ten  years  you  will  be  a  rich  man. 


Drifting.  25 

Don't  answer  me  now.  Take  time  to  think  of  it. 
Stay  with  us  for  a  fortnight,  at  least  ;  and  then 
if  you  see  fit  to  decline  my  offer  I  shall  take  no 
offence.  However  you  may  decide,  I  shall  be 
glad  that  I  have  made  your  acquaintance." 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE    TEMPTATION. 

T  was  the  next  day  after  Hermon  Wyatt 
had  been  brought  face  to  face  with  the 
great  temptation  of  his  life,  that  he  was 
introduced  to  my  readers.  As  he  had  said,  he 
was  a  poor  man  ;  and  moreover,  he  had  nine 
years  less  in  which  to  make  a  fortune  than  when 
he  began  the  pursuit  of  wealth.  He  could  illy 
afford  to  repeat  the  slow  process  of  saving  from  a 
salary  the  means  of  establishing  himself  again  in 
business.  He  was  in  the  full  perfection  of  physi 
cal  life  ;  but  to  his  distorted  sense  he  seemed  al 
most  to  have  passed  the  meridian  of  his  strength. 
It  had  been  his  ambition  to  write  his  name  in  the 
list  of  wealthy  men  before  age  should  have 
whitened  his  hair.  His  unexpected  failure  was  a 
terrible  blow  to  all  such  hopes. 


The   Temptation.  27 

After  making  the  proposition  which  involved 
so  much  of  weal  or  woe,  Mr.  Harvey  abruptly 
changed  the  subject  of  conversation  ;  yet  still 
taking  care  not  to  lose  sight  of  his  purpose.  He 
talked  of  his  own  early  days,  when  he,  too, 
longed  for  ample  means  to  enable  him  to  com 
mand  an  influential  place  in  the  world. 

"Say  what  people  may,  Cousin  Wyatt,  money 
is  king,"  he  remarked.  "  In  this  country  money 
will  accomplish  almost  anything,  and  the  man 
who  calculates  to  do  much  for  himself  or  others 
must  have  it.  We  need  money  to  endow  semi 
naries  of  learning ;  build  churches  ;  and  help 
those  who  have  not  been  blessed  with  the  ability 
to  help  themselves.  My  friend,  to  whom  I  have 
referred,  gives  largely  for  all  benevolent  pur 
poses,  and  is  always  ready  to  contribute  his  full 
share  for  the  public  good.  What  would  induce 
us  to  go  back  to  the  style  of  living  our  fathers 
and  mothers  endured  ?" 

"  I  should  wish  to  be  better  paid  for  it  than 
they  were,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  think  you  would.  It  was  pinching  to  make 
buckle  and  strap  meet,  and  then  finding  a  gap 


28  All  for  Money. 

after  all  at  the  end  of  the  year.  So  they  man 
aged  to  drag  on,  worried,  and  troubled,  and  anx 
ious  ;  growing  old  before  their  time  ;  and  never 
able  to  meet  the  smallest  extra  expense.  For 
my  part,  I  should  rather  die  than  be  so  poor  as 
my  father  was.  It  takes  all  the  heart  out  of  a 
man.  If  I  had  daughters,  I  would  never  give 
them  to  poor  men  as  wives.  It  would  make  me 
miserable  to  see  them  look  like  the  overworked 
women  we  meet  every  day  on  our  streets.  Pov 
erty  means  overwork  for  women,  who  should  be 
tenderly  cared  for." 

"  Poverty  is  a  bitter  thing,"  responded  Hcrmon 
Wyatt,  who  had  reason  to  know  that  his  host  was 
not  alone  in  the  sentiments  expressed. 

He  had  seen  a  gray-haired  man  lead  from  the 
altar,  as  a  bride,  the  only  woman  he  had  ever 
wished  to  make  his  wife ;  and  even  now  his 
breath  came  thick  and  fast  as  he  recalled  the 
words  of  her  father,  when  some  involuntary  act 
had  betrayed  the  secret  of  his  love. 

"  My  daughter  has  been  accustomed  to  luxury. 
The  man  to  whom  she  is  married  must  be  able 
to  provide  for  her  as  I  have." 


The   Temptation.  29 

Three  years  since  then,  and  he  was  too  prac 
tical  to  indulge  in  useless  regrets.  He  flattered 
himself  that  he  might  have  won  the  daughter's 
love  despite  her  father  ;  but  his  pride  had  taken 
umbrage,  and  he  plunged  into  business,  more 
than  ever  resolved  to  wrest  from  fate  her  golden 
favors. 

It  was  late  when  he  left  his  cousin  and  retired 
to  his  chamber  to  pass  a  sleepless  night.  Morn 
ing  found  him  dispirited  and  suffering  from  a 
severe  headache. 

Mrs.  Harvey  did  not  appear  at  the  breakfast  - 
table.  Her  husband  apologized  for  her  absence 
by  remarking:  "Such  a  wind  as  we  had  last 
night  always  affects  her  nerves.  You  will  see 
her  at  dinner,  quite  well,  I  hope." 

There  was  some  attempt  at  cheerfulness  which 
resulted  in  failure,  and  the  storm  was  held  re 
sponsible  for  a  gloom  with  which  it  was  in  no 
way  connected. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  to  leave  you,  but  I  am 
obliged  to  go  away  on  business  to-day,"  said  Mr. 
Harvey,  an  hour  later.  "  Please  consider  your 
self  at  home,  and  make  the  most  of  the  comforts 


jo  All  for  Money. 

about  you.  I  wouldn't  go  if  it  wasn't  a  matter  of 
importance  that  demands  attention." 

Not  a  word  of  what  had  transpired  the  previ 
ous  evening.  The  library  door  was  ajar,  and 
Hermon  Wyatt  entered.  He  was  too  restless  to 
read.  He  had  never  been  more  lonely,  and  yet 
he  did  not  care  for  companionship.  He  glanced 
down  the  columns  of  some  late  newspapers  only 
to  find  them  filled  with  details  of  the  financial 
panic.  Failures  were  occurring  every  hour,  and 
a  feeling  of  insecurity  pervaded  all  business 
circles. 

One  item  riveted  his  attention  :  "  In  the  gen 
eral  depression  of  trade,  it  is  a  noticeable  fact 
that  there  is  no  falling  off  in  the  sale  of  liquors. 
Importers,  wholesale  dealers,  and  retailers  are 
doing  a  large  and  profitable  business.  One 
might  argue  from  this  that  intoxicating  liquor  in 
some  form  is  one  of  the  chief  necessaries  of  life, 
ilf  so,  our  temperance  reformers  are  all  wrong." 

Here  was  a  strong  argument  in  favor  of  his 
engaging  in  the  liquor  traffic.  It  was  not  liable 
to  fluctuations  and  reverses. 

True,    his  prejudices  and    principles  were    all 


The   Temptation.  j/ 

opposed  to  it.  He  had  once  been  offered  ,a 
clerkship  in  a  wholesale  liquor  store,  and  refused 
it  with  disdain  ;  although  the  salary  was  much 
larger  than  he  could  command  elsewhere.  One 
moment,  he  resolved  to  settle  the  point  by 
leaving  his  cousin's  house  :  the  next  he  reflected 
that  he  had  his  way  to  make  in  the  world,  and 
that  here  was  the  only  friend  from  whom  he 
could  expect  any  assistance. 

Ten  years  !  In  imagination  these  years  had 
passed,  and  at  forty  he  was  still  a  comparatively 
poor  man.  Springing  from  the  chair  in  which  he 
was  seated,  he  rushed  through  the  hall  and  up 
the  stairs  to  his  own  room. 

Instantly  he  contrasted  this  with  the  low  gar 
ret  whose  bare  rafters  had  been  familiar  to  him 
in  his  boyhood.  Here  was  wealth.  There  was 
poverty.  Money  made  all  the  difference,  and 
money  he  must  have  at  any  cost. 

He  did  not  profess  to  be  a  Christian.  Why 
should  he  set  up  a  higher  standard  for  himself 
than  was  maintained  by  the  church  ?  If  other 
men  could  be  accounted  honorable  while  dealing 
in  intoxicating  liquors,  why  could  not  he?  If 


$2  All  for  Money. 

others  were  extolled  for  benevolence,  when  their 
benefactions  were  the  direct  gains  of  pandering 
to  a  depraved  appetite,  why  might  not  he  join 
their  ranks  ? 

This  was  sheer  sophistry,  as  he  well  knew  ;  yet 
he  welcomed  it  as  sound  logic,  and  allowed  his 
fancy  to  revel  in  dreams  of  magnificent  wealth. 
He  possessed  houses  and  lands.  His  ships  sailed 
away  to  far  off  lands  and  returned  laden  with 
precious  cargoes.  His  home  was  palatial  in  its 
elegance.  His  wife — for  his  home  must  have  a 
mistress — was  the  cynosure  of  all  eyes. 

Was  it  the  moaning  of  the  wind,  or  a  cry  of 
pain  from  his  own  heart  which  sent  him  to  the 
window  as  the  storm  birds  flitted  past  with  un 
ruffled  plumage  ?  How  he  envied  them  !  Duty 
and  inclination  were  never  at  variance  in  their 
domain.  The  supply  of  their  daily  wants  con 
tented  them  ;  while  he  was  ever  struggling  and 
never  attaining. 

Near  his  old  home  was  a  hill,  crowned  with 
three  majestic  oaks,  beneath  whose  wide-spread 
ing  branches  he  had  often  rested.  He  longed 
now  for  the  freedom  and  sense  of  isolation  which 


The   Temptation*  33 

he  had  experienced  nowhere  else  as  there.  He 
would  bare  his  head  to  the  tempest  nor  shrink 
from  its  fury. 

He  was  brave  and  strong.  No  one  ever  branded 
him  as  a  coward.  Had  Leander  Harvey  stood 
before  him  then  he  would  have  replied  to  the 
gentleman's  proposal  as  his  better  nature  dictated. 
He  could  have  gone  out  to  life-long  poverty,  if 
need  be,  without  one  feeling  of  regret. 

He  turned  from  the  sternness  without  to  the 
softness  within,  and  a  change  passed  over  him. 
The  oak-crowned  hill  was  but  a  bleak,  desolate 
eminence,  offering  neither  shelter  nor  refresh 
ment.  The  atmosphere  was  cold  and  piercing  ; 
not  free  and  invigorating.  Isolation  was  but 
another  name  for  positive  wretchedness.  He 
could  not  forego  the  advantages  proffered 
him. 

This  he  was  fain  to  regard  as  a  final  decision, 
and  took  up  a  paper  he  had  brought  from  the 
library.  The  first  article  upon  which  his  eye  fell 
was  headed :  "  Another  victim  of  the  liquor 
traffic."  He  threw  down  the  paper,  but  some 
thing  impelled  him  to  its  perusal. 


jy  All  for  Money. 

A  young  man  with  a  family  dependent  upon 
him  had  been  induced  to  sell  his  services  to  a 
wholesale  liquor  dealer,  simply  because  the  latter 
\vas  the  highest  bidder  for  these  services.  The 
man  was  reliable  and  strictly  temperate  ;  the 
right  man  for  his  position.  So  said  his  employer  ; 
and  those  who  had  remonstrated  with  him  hoped 
their  fears  would  prove  groundless. 

The  story  was  told  in  few  words.  The  fumes 
of  the  liquor  appealed  to  his  senses.  He  tasted, 
and  his  doom  was  sealed.  His  downward  career 
was  short.  In  less  than  two  years  he  was  a  con 
firmed  drunkard,  realizing  his  degradation,  and 
yet  unable  to  escape  from  the  thraldom  of  a  bru 
tish  appetite.  Life  became  intolerable,  and  he 
died  by  his  own  hand,  leaving  those  who  loved 
him  to  mourn  his  untimely  death. 

The  concluding  paragraph  of  the  record  was  as 
follows  :  "  The  late  employer  of  the  deceased, 
after  paying  all  funeral  charges,  and  giving  other 
substantial  tokens  of  his  sympathy,  invested  two 
thousand  dollars  for  the  benefit  of  the  bereaved 
family.  Has  he  returned  a  just  equivalent  for  the 
life  of  the  husband  and  father  ?  Is  the  value  of 


The   Temptation.  35 

a  human  soul  to  be  estimated  in  dollars  and 
cents  ?" 

"  No  !  A  thousand  times  no  !"  was  the  quick 
response  which  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  reader. 

A  shrill  whistle  announced  the  arrival  of  a 
railroad  train,  and  not  long  after,  a  close  carriage 
was  driven  to  the  door.  A  young  girl  sprang 
out,  who  was  welcomed  cordially  by  the  servant. 

"  Tell  Auntie  I  have  come,  and  will  cure  her 
headache.  It  was  dismal  enough  in  the  cars,  but 
I  knew  it  would  be  pleasant  here." 

"  Yes,  Miss  Milly  ;  it's  always  pleasant  where 
you  are,"  was  the  answer  given  to  this  remark. 

A  sweet,  rippling  laugh  replied  ;  its  music 
floating  up  the  broad  stairway,  and  penetrating 
the  room  in  which  Hermon  Wyatt  was  sitting. 

This  was  sufficient  to  change  the  current  of  his 
thoughts,  and  make  him  wish  to  hasten  the  flight 
of  time.  At  length  dinner  was  announced,  as 
usual,  when  he  presented  himself  faultlessly 
dressed,  and  looking  handsomer  than  was  his 
wont.  He  was  introduced  to  Miss  Legrew,who 
acknowledged  the  introduction  with,  well-bred 
courtesy,  and  then  quite  ignored  his  presence. 


j6  All  for  Money. 

Dinner  over,  he  retired  to  the  library  ;  not  to 
make  business  calculations,  but  to  dream  of 
starry  eyes,  rose-bud  lips,  and  dimpled  chin.  He 
was  idle  ;  else  a  girl's  face  seen  for  the  first 
time  would  never  so  have  moved  him. 

Mr.  Harvey  returned  ;  and  mindful  of  his  duties 
as  host,  invited  his  cousin  to  the  parlor,  where 
the  ladies  were  enjoying  a  tete-a-tete.  Millicent 
Legrew  raised  her  eyes  to  the  handsome  face 
of  the  young  man,  allowing  them  to  rest  there 
for  a  moment,  as  if  scanning  his  features.  Then, 
without  a  shadow  of  embarrassment  more  than 
a  child  would  have  betrayed,  she  turned  away 
her  gaze  and  addressed  her  uncle. 

"  You  are  surprised  to  see  me  here  ?"  she  said, 
interrogatively. 

"  Happily  surprised,"  answered  the  gentleman. 
"  I  should  not  have  supposed  anything  would 
take  you  from  the  city  at  this  season,  but  I  am 
very  glad  to  see  you." 

"Thank  you  for  that  assurance.  I  left  the  city 
because  it  takes  money  to  live  there,  and  I  am 
only  a  poor  girl,  with  lots  of  finery  and  no 
fortune." 


The   Temptation.  j/ 

"  No  fortune,  child  !     Have  you  lost  it  ?" 

"  Yes,  the  whole  has  gone  at  one  fell  swoop. 
I  had  enough  to  bring  me  here,  and  thanked  my 
stars  for  that.  I  haven't  told  auntie  about  it 
before.  Failures  are  so  common  in  these  days 
they  are  matters  of  general  interest  ;  so  that  I 
trust  Mr.  Wyatt  will  excuse  me  for  intruding 
this  item  of  news  upon  his  notice.  Mother  is 
troubled,  and  as  she  would  look  on  the  dark 
side,  I  felt  obliged  to  leave  her." 

Few  young  ladies  would  have  spoken  thus 
frankly.  This  was  the  mental  comment  made  by 
Mr.  Harvey,  and  he  admired  his  favorite  all  the 
more  for  so  doing.  He  understood  why  she  had 
chosen  such  a  time  and  place  to  reveal  her  true 
position,  and  he  knew  better  than  she  could  tell 
him  how  unhomelike  her  own  home  must  now  be 
to  her. 

Her  mother,  a  sister  of  his  wife,  was  a  thor 
oughly  worldly  woman,  who  had  striven  hard  to 
render  her  daughter  as  heartless  and  artificial  as 
herself.  Sometimes  it  seemed  that  she  had  ac 
complished  her  purpose,  and  for  weeks  Milly 
lived  in  a  whirl  of  excitement  and  fashionable 


38  All  for  Money. 

dissipation  which  left  no  time  for  serious  thought. 
She    was   flattered   by  admiring  attentions,   and 
dazzled  by  brilliant  anticipations,  until  she  seemed 
the  veriest  butterfly  that  ever  expanded  its  wingsj 
in  the  warmth  of  a  summer  sun. 

Her  father  was  a  man  of  sterling  qualities. 
Had  he  lived,  he  would  have  influenced  her  for 
good  ;  and  even  now,  in  her  gayest  hours,  she 
often  questioned  how  he  would  have  regarded  her 
life. 

So  far  as  property  was  concerned,  she  had  been 
left  independent  of  her  mother,  and  having 
already  passed  the  age  when  by  her  father's  will 
it  was  to  be  at  her  own  disposal,  the  loss  fell 
entirely  upon  herself.  She  had  the  consolation 
of  knowing  that  this  loss  was  the  result  of  no 
mismanagement  on  her  part,  as  her  guardian  had 
invested  it  in  accordance  with  her  father's  wish  ; 
and  but  for  heavy  failures  which  could  not  have 
been  foreseen,  the  investment  would  be  secure. 

"  Why  Milly,  child,  what  are  you  going  to  do  ?" 
asked  her  aunt,  in  a  tone  of  distress. 

"  Going  to  work,"  was  the  laughing  reply. 
"  Mother  can't  afford  to  support  me.  I  suppose 


The    Temptation.  39 

I  can  do  something  to  earn  money.  I  like  it  too 
well  to  try  to  live  without  it." 

"  I  don't  think  any  of  us  would  like  to  try  that. 
Cousin  Wyatt,  here,  went  down  with  the  crash, 
but  I  have  a  presentiment  that  he  will  be  better 
off  for  it.  It's  best  to  look  on  the  bright  side, 
and  not  be  easily  discouraged,"  said  Mr.  Harvey, 
looking  from  one  to  another  of  his  companions, 
and  feeling  somewhat  embarrassed  by  the  com 
munication  which  had  been  made.  "  Suppose 
now  you  give  us  some  music,  and  so  drive  away 
dull  care." 

The  young  lady  needed  no  urging.  Seating 
herself  at  the  piano,  she  played  light  fantastic 
airs  :  then  wild,  stormy  battle  hymns,  dying 
away  in  mournful  dirges  like  the  sobbings  of 
breaking  hearts.  She  paused  for  a  little,  then 
touched  again  the  keys  in  waltzing  measure  :  the 
very  perfection  of  rhythmic  melody. 

"  You  have  one  gift  left,  Milly.  Your  music 
has  been  a  rare  treat." 

"  I  am  glad  that  it  has,"  she  replied 
to  her  uncle's  remark.  "  My  head  aches  now. 
If  you  will  excuse  me  I  will  bid  you  good 


40  All  for  Money. 

night  ;"  and  with  a  graceful  bow  she  left  the 
room. 

Mr.  Wyatt  did  not  long  remain.  He  was  dis 
inclined  to  conversation,  and  judged  rightly  that 
his  friends  would  willingly  dispense  with  his  com 
pany. 

They  met  in  the  morning.  Mrs.  Harvey  was 
courteous  and  smiling  ;  Mr.  Harvey,  hearty  and 
cordial.  Miss  Legrewwas  very  pale,  with  dark 
circles  about  her  eyes,  and  a  look  of  utter  weari 
ness  upon  her  face. 

It  was  not  necessary  for  her  to  say  that  she 
had  watched  through  all  the  night  ;  counting  the 
hours  as  they  passed  ;  longing  for  the  light  of 
day,  and  yet  shrinking  from  what  the  day  might 
bring.  She  sat  opposite  Hermon  Wyatt  at  the 
table  ;  and  as  she  glanced  at  him  she  wondered 
if  the  loss  of  money  seemed  to  him  such  a  terrible 
calamity,  while  she  envied  him  the  ability  to 
retrieve  his  fortune. 

He  was  very  handsome  ;  and  straightway  she 
found  herself  fancying  the  sensation  he  would 
create  in  her  set.  There  was  Maud  Clifford 
always  raving  about  "  men  of  magnificent  height 


The   Temptation.  41 

and  figure  ;"  and  no  one  would  presume  to  dispute 
the  claims  of  Mr.  Wyatt  to  these  qualifications. 
Bess  Cleveland  doted  upon  wavy  locks  and  soft 
silky  beard  ;  waxing  eloquent  in  their  praise, 
and  exhausting  her  vocabulary  of  adjectives  in 
their  description.  Here  was  all  she  could  desire 
as  inspiration  for  her  rhapsodies. 

Not  one  of  these  fair  girls  would  have  detected 
the  lack  in  the  manly  face  which  a  skilful  reader 
of  human  faces  would  have  recognized  at  once. 
Milly  did  not  see  it.  She  was  critical,  but  to  her 
the  stranger  seemed  faultless  in  his  personal  ap 
pearance.  A  month  before  she  would  have 
anticipated  a  flirtation  with  so  desirable  a  party. 
Now,  there  was  too  much  of  sad  reality  in  the 
present  too  much  in  the  immediate  past  to  be 
remembered  ;  and  too  much  of  serious  work 
waiting  for  her  in  the  future,  to  allow  her  to  drift 
into  a  flirtation  merely  because  a  man  was  hand 
some  and  agreeable. 

She  was  relieved  when  breakfast  was  over,  and 
she  had  no  further  need  to  keep  up  an  appear 
ance  of  cheerfulness.  She  had  been  brave  and 
almost  defiant  when  she  bade  her  mother  good- 


42  All  for  Money. 

•** 

bye,  after  having-  been  told  that  she  had  thrown 
away  her  only  chance  of  making  a  good  settle 
ment  in  life  ;  but  her  bravery  was  well  nigh  spent. 

She  loved  her  mother,  and  it  was  hard  to  resist 
the  entreaties  of  one  she  loved  ;  but  to  marry  an 
old  man  merely  because  he  could  count  his  wealth 
by  millions  would  have  been  infinitely  harder. 
She  would  not  so  degrade  herself.  She  was  not 
a  Circassian  beauty,  to  be  sold  to  the  highest 
bidder  and  wear  his  chains  gratefully,  even 
though  the  chains  were  of  gold  encrusted  with 
diamonds.  She  was  vain  and  foolish,  but  there 
was  a  limit  to  her  vanity  and  folly.  She  would 
never  perjure  herself  at  the  altar,  and  make  a 
mock  of  what  should  be  a  holy  sacrament.  All 
this  and  much  more  she  had  said  when  her 
mother  reproached  her  for  refusing  the  wealthi 
est  man  of  her  acquaintance. 

"  You  will  never  have  another  such  an  offer," 
exclaimed  Mrs.  Legrew. 

"  I  hope  not,"  was  the  quick  reply  of  her 
daughter. 

"  Mr.  Esterbrook  has  the  respect  of  the  com 
munity." 


The   Temptation.  43 

"  His  money  buys  it.  There  is  nothing  in  his 
appearance  or  character  to  command  it.  You 
know  that,  mother.  If  he  was  my  father  I 
could  hardly  tolerate  him.  As  it  is,  I  am  thank- 

« 

ful  that  I  have  a  right  to  treat  him  as  he  deserves." 

"  What  do  you  know  of  his  character  ?  You 
have  nothing  to  do  with  it.  It  does  not  concern 
you  in  the  least." 

"I  am  glad  it  does  not.  But  everybody  knows 
him  to  be  an  unprincipled,  hard-hearted  old  man  ; 
as  wicked  as  he  is  disagreeable,  and  ugly  look 
ing  as  he  is  contemptible.  How  could  I  love 
such  a  man  as  he  is  ?" 

"  No  one  is  perfect.  You  would  get  over  your 
romantic  notions  after  living  in  poverty  for  a 
while.  Love  is  well  enough  in  its  place,  but  one 
can't  eat  it,  or  drink  it." 

"  Better  poverty  than  slavery  :  and  better  any 
other  slavery  than  a  loveless  marriage.  I  will 
starve  in  the  street  before  I  will  ever  give  Mr. 
Esterbrook  the  right  to  call  me  his  wife." 

"  Then  you  are  no  daughter  of  mine.  How  are 
you  to  live  ?" 

"  I  can  work  and  earn  my  living.     Other  girls 


44  All  for  Money. 

are  doing  it,  and  what  others  can  do  I  can  do 
too." 

"  Other  girls  are  starving  in  garrets,  and  freez 
ing  for  want  of  fire  and  clothing." 

"  I  shall  never  come  to  that  while  I  have  a 
mother." 

"  No,  Milly,  you  never  shall  ;"  and  for  a  mo 
ment  the  mother's  heart  was  touched.  "  But  I 
have  set  my  heart  upon  this  match,"  she  added 
directly.  "  Think  of  the  advantages.  You  will 
have  the  most  elegant  establishment  in  the  city. 
You  will  be  the  envy  of  all  your  companions. 
You  can  eclipse  them  all  in  the  richness  of  your 
dress  and  jewels.  Love  is  pleasant,  but  people 
can  live  very  comfortably  without  it  ;  while  it  is 
quite  impossible  to  live  without  money.  I  told 
Mr.  Esterbrook  not  to  regard  your  decision  as 
final  ;  so  you  will  have  an  opportunity  to  revoke 
it.  He  will  call  again  day  after  to-morrow.  He 
loves  you  so  much,  and  is  willing  to  lavish  so 
much  upon  you,  you  would  soon  learn  to  think 
of  him  with  grateful  respect." 

"  Never,   mother,  no,  never.      I   should    hate 
him." 


The   Temptation.  45 

"  Then  you  may  be  sure  Stella  Bond  will  take 
him." 

"  She  is  welcome  to  him,  so  far  as  I  am  con 
cerned.  Diamonds  would  become  her,  and  she 
would  pay  almost  any  price  for  the  privilege  of 
wearing  them.  I  should  pity  her  though.  It 
would  be  dreadful  to  be  tied  to  such  an  old  roue. 
That  is  just  what  he  is,  mother  ;  and  his  crue 
character  can  be  seen  through  the  gilding  as 
plainly  as  you  can  see  his  glaring  porcelain 
teeth." 

An  unhappy  scene  had  followed  this  discussion, 
ending  finally  in  tears  and  bitter  recriminations. 
Mrs.  Legrewwas  ambitious  of  just  the  distinction 
now  within  her  daughter's  reach,  and  would  not 
have  hesitated  at  any  personal  sacrifice  by  which 
she  could  obtain  it.  She  did  not  say  that  in  all 
probability  death  would  soon  release  the  wife  of 
Mr.  Esterbrook  from  her  marriage  vows ;  yet  in 
her  calculations  this  was  by  no  means  overlooked. 
She  had  been  too  long  accustomed  to  consider 
possibilities  and  probabilities,  not  to  lay  great 
stress  upon  this  ;  but  she  did  not  urge  it  as  a  rea 
son  why  her  daughter  should  marry  the  old  man. 


46  All  for  Money. 

Mr.  Esterbrook  knew  that  Milly  Legrew  was 
penniless,  and  with  the  egotism  of  such  as  he, 
fancied  she  would  gratefully  accept  of  what  he 
could  give  in  exchange  for  her  youth  and  beauty. 
To  say  that  he  loved  her  would  not  be  true.  He 
was  not  capable  of  the  emotion  of  love.  But  he 
admired  her,  and  the  time  had  come  when  he 
must  make  some  preparation  for  confinement 
within  doors.  His  wife  would  be  forced  to  accept 
the  thankless  office  of  nurse  and  companion  to 
one  who  had  no  resources  of  happiness  within 
himself. 

He  acknowledged  to  but  sixty  years  ;  yet 
according  to  the  family  record  in  the  old  Bible, 
which  his  sister,  a  poor  and  lonely  widow, 
treasured  as  her  choicest  possession,  he  had 
already  passed  the  allotted  age  of  threescore 
years  and  ten.  Only  an  iron  constitution,  and 
the  robust  health  firmly  established  by  out-of 
-door  exercise  and  regular  habits  during  his  early 
manhood,  would  have  resisted  the  dissipation 
and  excesses  of  his  mature  life. 

He  had  been  proverbially  penurious  until  a 
fortunate  speculation  gave  him  the  means  of  in- 


The   Temptation.  47 

dulging  tastes  no  one  had  dreamed  that  he  pos 
sessed,  and  of  which  he  was  himself  hardly  con 
scious.  From  that  time  his  private  career  had 
been  such  as  all  good  men  and  women  must 
condemn.  He  was  unscrupulous  in  'all  things. 
Wealth  accumulated  upon  his  hands,  while  he 
was  deaf  to  every  call  of  charity,  and  his  soul 
was  beggared. 

A  sinister  face  strongly  marked  by  evil  pas 
sions  ;  a  narrow,  receding  forehead,  and  small, 
wicked  eyes  made  up  a  picture  by  no  means 
likely  to  please  a  young  girl's  fancy.  But  his 
horses  were  magnificent,  and  his  carriages  ele 
gant.  His  country-seat,  recently  purchased, 
was  such  as  a  queen  might  choose  for  her  resi 
dence,  and  he  was  the  richest  man  in  the  matri 
monial  market  to  which  Mrs.  Legrew  had  brought 
her  daughter. 


CHAPTER  III. 
A  GIRL'S  DECISION. 

ILLY  LEGREW  excused  herself  from 
appearing  at  dinner,  and  not  long  after, 
when  her  aunt  was  out  driving  with  Mr. 
Wyatt,  she  was  summoned  to  a  conference  with 
her  uncle.  She  came  to  the  library  dejected,  and 
with  laggard  steps  ;  yet  smiled  as  she  entered 
and  accepted  the  chair  proffered  her. 

"Now,  Milly,  child,  tell  us  all  about  this  mis 
erable  business,"  said  Mr.  Harvey.  "  Have  you 
really  lost  every  dollar  of  your  property?" 

"  Yes,  uncle,  every  dollar,  except  enough  to 
bring  me  here  and  pay  my  dressmaker's  bill." 

"  Your  mother  has  not  lost  hers." 

"  Oh,  no.  But,  as  I  told  you,  she  can't  afford 
to  support  me.  I  never  thought  of  it  till  within 
a  few  days  ;  but  she  must  have  been  spending  on 


A  Girl's  Decision.  49 

her  principal  the  last  two  years.  I  have  been 
making  some  estimates  of  our  expenses,  and  I  am 
sure  they  are  more  than  her  income  can  meet. 
She  has  not  told  me  so,  but  I  am  as  sure  as  if  she 
had.  She  calculated  upon  my  making  a  brilliant 
match,  and  I  have  disappointed  her  by  refusing 
to  marry  the  man  she  has  chosen  for  me." 

"  Tell  me  all  about  it,  Milly.  You  can  trust 
me,  and  perhaps  I  can  give  you  some  good  advice 
in  ths  matter." 

"  I  should  like  the  advice  if  it  sustains  me. 
How  I  wish  my  father  had  lived.  I  never  needed 
him  so  much  as  I  do  now.  I  can't  yield  to  my 
mother,  and  I  can't  convince  her  that  I  am  doing 
right  in  refusing." 

"Refusing  what?" 

"  Refusing  to  marry  Mr.  Esterbrook." 

"  What  !  Daniel  Esterbrook,  that  old  rowdy  !" 

"  Yes,  uncle,  and  that  is  just  what  I  called 
him,  only  I  Frenchified  the  obnoxious  epithet. 

"  I  shouldn't  take  the  trouble  to  do  that  even  if 
I  could.  I  believe  in  plain  English  ;  and  Dan 
Esterbrook,  with  all  his  money,  is  a  low,  coarse 
rowdy.  So  he  wants  to  marry  you,  does  he  ?" 


So  All  for  Money. 

"Yes,  sir;  he  said  it  would  be  the  crowning 
glory  of  his  life  to  lay  his  fortune  at  my  feet." 
"His  fortune  is  princely,  and  one  cannot  live 
without  money  ;  but  to  be  his  wife  would  be  pay 
ing  too  dear  a  price.  Your  mother  must  be  insane 
to  think  of  such  a  thing.  In  the  first  place,  he  is 
old  enough  to  be  your  grandfather.  In  the  sec 
ond  place,  his  looks  are  a  strong  confirmation  of 
the  theory  that  man  descended  from  a  baboon. 
You  refused  him  of  course." 

"  Of  course  I  did,  but  mother  told  him  not  to 
consider  my  decision  final.  So  to  avoid  the  com 
ing  storm  and  take  counsel  with  you  I  came 
here." 

"  You  did  right.  I  never  thought  old  Ester- 
brook  could  be  so  presumptuous  ;  but  money 
hides  a  vast  amount  of  conceit  as  well  as  a  mul 
titude  of  sins.  I  don't  believe  in  a  girl  like  you 
marrying  a  poor  man  and  settling  down  to 
drudge  through  life,  but  there  should  always  be  a 
decent  regard  for  the  fitness  of  things.  It's  not 
necessary  to  choose  between  him  and  poverty, 
if  you  are  a  penniless  girl.  Your  mother  knew 
you  were  coming  here  ?" 


A  Girl's  Decision.  57 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  she  told  me  you  would  send  me 
back  to  act  as  a  sensible  girl  should.  I  am  will 
ing  to  work,  but  I  will  never  marry  that  old 
wretch." 

"  What  can  you  do  ?" 

"  I  don't  know.  You  see  I  have  never  tried. 
I  have  been  enjoying  life  without  thinking  there 
was  any  work  for  me.  Now,  as  I  am  determined 
not  to  be  bargained  off  like  a  piece  of  salable 
property,  I  intend  to  give  my  friends  due  notice 
of  my  independence.  With  a  little  practice  I 
could  give  music  lessons,  and  I  could  soon  learn 
to  play  a  church  organ.  I  was  the  best  scholar 
Mr.  Ajrtoni  had  in  the  seminary.  I  ought  to  be  a 
music  teacher,  and  that  is  just  what  I  will  be.  I 
will  advertise  for  scholars  directly." 

"  But  your  mother  and  your  aunt  will  object 
to  that,  and  I  can't  say  I  shall  be  wholly  pleased. 
I  shall  be  happy  to  give  you  a  home  and  provide 
for  you  as  long  as  you  will  stay  with  us.  Your 
aunt  would  be  delighted  to  have  you  for  a  com 
panion  ;  and  whether  you  stay  or  not,  there's  no 
need  of  troubling  yourself  about  your  support. 
It's  a  pity  if  we  can't  take  care  of  one  little  girl." 


5-?  All  for  Money. 

The  tears  which  had  been  trembling  in  Milly's 
eyes  now  came  trickling  down  beneath  the  closed 
lids,  and  despite  her  efforts  to  suppress  them,  her 
sobs  were  audible. 

"  I  thought  I  had  done  all  my  crying,"  she 
said  at  length.  "I  don't  care  so  much  about  the 
money,  if  mother  wouldn't  feel  as  she  does." 

"  Don't  be  troubled  about  that.  She  will  feel 
differently  when  she  comes  to  realize  what  a 
sacrifice  she  has  asked  you  to  make.  Just  now 
she  is  dazzled  with  the  glitter  of  gold.  Did  you 
leave  her  alone  ?" 

"  Alone  with  Cousin  Naomi  and  the  servants." 

"  What  did  Naomi  say  to  you  ?" 

"That  I  had  more  sense  than  she  gave  me 
credit  for,  and  she  hoped  old  Moneybags  would 
keep  out  of  her  sight  the  rest  of  his  life.  She 
always  approves  what  mother  disapproves." 

"  She  is  a  sensible  woman,  with  all  her  oddities, 
and  she  might  have  been  well  married  if  she 
hadn't  been  so  particular.  I  have  always  won 
dered  that  she  chose  to  live  with  your  mother." 

"  It  is  strange,  but  I  don't  know  what  we 
should  do  without  her.  She  is  very  capable,  and 


A   Girls  Decision.  5? 

she  has  a  kind  heart,  for  all  her  sharp  words. 
She  always  comforted  me  in  my  childish  troubles, 
and  when  I  was  sick  she  and  father  always  took 
care  of  me.  She  encouraged  me  to  come  here 
and  tell  you  all  my  story.  She  said  you  were  all 
bound  up  in  making  money,  but  you  had  good 
common  sense  and  could  be  trusted  in  most  cases. 
So  you  see  she  had  some  faith  in  you  ;"  and  Milly 
smiled  as  she  remembered  the  patronizing  air 
with  which  Cousin  Naomi  had  made  this  re 
mark. 

"  I  feel  complimented,"  replied  the  gentleman, 
smiling  in  return.  "  I  am  very  glad  you  came 
here,  and  you  may  count  on  me  to  sustain  you 
in  your  refusal  to  marry  old  Esterbrook.  The 
wonder  to  me  is  that  he  ever  presumed  to  think 
of  such  a  thing." 

"  But  he  has  money,  uncle,  and  it  does  seem 
sometimes  as  though  people  would  sell  their 
souls  for  money.  I  don't  doubt  but  what  some 
girl  would  marry  him.  Some  girl,  too,  as  young 
and  as  pretty  as  I  am." 

The  laugh  which  supplemented  this  frank 
reference  to  her  own  dower  of  youth  and  beauty 


5^  All  for  Momy. 

was  the  very  same  which  had  so  charmed  Hermon 
Wyatt. 

Mr.  Harvey  responded  gayly  :  "  There  is  van 
ity  for  you.  Your  trials  Jjave  not  destroyed 
that." 

"  No,  sir.  Why  should  they  ?  I  must  make 
the  most  of  my  personal  qualities,  now  that  I 
have  no  more  solid  attractions.  I  am  a  poor  girl. 
Just  think  of  it.  And  there  is  no  more  reason 
why  Milly  Legrew  should  go  through  the  world 
in  a  gilded  chariot,  drawn  by  prancing  horses,  than 
there  is  that  all  other  girls  should  do  the  same. 
Cousin  Naomi  said  that  to  me  one  day  last 
spring,  and  I  didn't  believe  her  ;  but  I  am 
beginning  now  to  think  she  told  the  truth.  If  I 
could  stay  here  a  year  and  give  music  lessons, 
uncle,  I  should  be  perfectly  happy.  I'd  rather  do 
it  than  anything  else  I  can  think  of.  Isn't  Miss 
Perry  getting  old-fashioned,  or  tired,  or  some 
thing,  so  she  would  be  glad  to  give  up  her 
scholars  ?  You  see,  I  have  the  latest  style  at  my 
fingers'  ends,  and  could  whirl  my  pupils  along  at 
a  waltzing  rate." 

"Perhaps  so,  Milly.     I  don't  doubt  you   could 


A  Girl's  Decision.  55 

teach    music   if  you   should  attempt  it,    and    of 
course  you  would  do  it  well." 

"  Of  course  I  should.     And  Miss  Perry " 

"  I've  not  seen  her  very  lately  ;  but  the  last 
time  I  met  her  with  a  roll  of  music  in  her  hand, 
she  looked  so  pale  and  tired  I  really  pitied  her. 
She  is  a  very  worthy  woman,  and  she  has  done 
for  her  parents  what  few  daughters  could.  Her 
father  lost  his  property  after  it  was  too  late  for 
him  to  go  into  active  business  again,  and  her 
brother  turned  out  a  miserable  drunkard,  so  that 
the  support  of  the  family  came  upon  her.  She 
was  a  pretty  girl  then,  not  much  older  than  you 
are.  She  has  spent  the  best  part  of  her  life  in 
giving  music  lessons,  just  managing  to  make  her 
earnings  meet  the  demands  made  upon  them. 
She  is  forty  now.  I  shouldn't  like  to  see  you 
spend  your  life  as  she  has,  and  in  twenty  years 
find  yourself  alone,  with  no  one  to  care  for  you. 
Miss  Perry's  mother  died  last  spring,  and  since 
then  she  must  have  been  very  lonely." 

"  Poor  woman  !  I  pity  her.  I  don't  think  I 
could  live  alone.  I  mean  to  call  on  her  and  usk 
her  if  she  has  more  scholars  than  she  wants  ;  or 


5<5  All  for  Money. 

perhaps  she  would  like  to  take  a  vacation,  and 
let  me  try  my  skill  in  teaching.  You  are  willing 
I  should,  aren't  you,  uncle  ?" 

"  I  am  willing  you  should  call  upon  her. 
Indeed,  I  should  be  very  glad  to  have  you  do  so. 
I  am  afraid  we  have  neglected  her,  though  she 
lives  in  a  comfortable  way,  and  there's  not  a  lady 
in  our  village  who  can  entertain  company  more 
agreeably  than  she.  But  you  had  better  talk 
with  your  aunt  before  you  make  any  plans  for 
supporting  yourself.  I  know  she  will  oppose  you 
in  that." 

"  But  I  am  used  to  opposition  just  now,  and 
Cousin  Naomi  says  I  ought  never  to  give  up 
when  I  know  I  am  right." 

"  You  may  be  mistaken  in  your  ideas  of  what 
is  right." 

"Yes,  sir,  I  am  very  likely  to  be  mistaken. 
But  it  can't  be  wrong  for  me  to  make  myself 
useful." 

This  conversation  was  prolonged  until  Mrs. 
Harvey  and  Mr.  Wyatt  returned  from  their  drive, 
bringing  with  them  something  of  the  vitality 
pervading  the  clear,  cold  atmosphere  without. 


A  Girl's  Decision.  57 

"  You  ought  not  to  stay  in  the  house  this  de 
lightful  day,"  said  the  lady  to  her  niece.  "It  is 
treason  to  the  weather.  If  there  was  another 
hour  of  daylight  I  should  insist  upon  your  going 
out.  You  would  soon  forget  your  headache." 

"  I  have  forgotten  it  already,"  was  replied. 
"  Uncle  has  driven  away  headache  and  heartache. 
We  have  had  a  nice,  cozy  chat,  and  this  library 
always  did  seem  to  me  a  real  comforting  room. 
If  I  was  a  book- worm  I  should  take  up  my  quar 
ters  in  the  sunniest  corner." 

"  You  don't  look  much  like  a  book-worm," 
rejoined  Mr.  Harvey,  while  the  younger  gentle 
man  mentally  indulged  in  the  most  extravagant 
praises  of  her  beauty  and  grace. 

For  the  time,  she  was  relieved  of  the  burden 
which  had  oppressed  her,  and  her  spirits  rose 
with  the  occasion.  Conscious  of  the  admiration 
she  inspired,  she  delivered  herself  to  the  pleasures 
of  the  hour.  She  conversed  with  charming  viva 
city  ;  investing  the  most  common-place  remarks 
with  an  importance  borrowed  from  her  fascinat 
ing  manner.  Mr.  Wyatt  led  her  to  the  piano 
and  listened  enraptured  to  the  music  she  evoked. 


58  AH  for  Money. 

When  she  retired  that  night,  she  forgot  to  be 
moan  her  fate,  nor  feared  what  the  morrow  might 
bring.  To  talk  seriously  with  her  aunt  in  regard 
to  her  half- formed  plans  had  seemed  a  formidable 
task ;  but  when  a  new  morning  dawned  she  felt 
not  a  single  misgiving. 

Her  face  had  lost  the  look  which  appealed  so 
strongly  to  the  sympathy  of  those  who  saw  her 
the  previous  day.  Breakfast  was  a  cheerful  meal, 
over  which  all  lingered  as  if  loth  to  separate. 

Later,  Mr.  Harvey  went  out  ;  Mr.  Wyatt  went 
to  the  library  ;  and  the  ladies  seated  themselves 
in  a  small  room  designated  by  Milly  as  "  the 
snuggery." 

"  That's  just  the  name  for  such  a  room  as 
this,"  she  would  exclaim  triumphantly,  whenever 
an  objection  was  made  to  her  homely  word. 
"  You  can  call  it  what  you  please  ;  but  to  me 
it  is  just  a  snuggery,  where  you  can  think  your 
own  thoughts,  and  express  them,  too,  without 
consulting  the  latest  bulletins  to  decide  whether 
they  are  dressed  in  the  most  fashionable  style. 

"  Just  the  place  for  us  this  morning,  auntie," 
she  said,  coaxingly.  "  Because,  you  see,  I  have 


A  Girl's  Decision.  59 

a  proposal  to  make  to  you,  and  I  want  to  be  sure 
of  you  in  your  most  gracious  mood.  Allow  me 
to  open  the  door  into  the  conservatory,  so  that 
our  senses  may  be  steeped  in  the  perfume  of 
flowers,  and  we  can  fancy  that  we  are  living 
where  perpetual  summer  reigns.  The  lilies  and 
the  roses  !  Oh,  auntie,  what  a  beautiful  home 
you  have  !" 

"  Yes,  I  think  it  is  pleasant,  but  I  am  hoping 
that  we  shall  some  time  have  a  more  spacious  and 
elegant  house  than  this.  I  like  to  have  every 
thing  about  me  chaste  and  beautiful." 

"  So  do  I,  and  that  is  just  the  discomfort  of 
being  poor.  When  it  takes  all  your  money  to 
buy  bread,  and  butter,  and  coal,  and  plain 
dresses,  there  can't  be  any  left  for  flowers  and 
handsome  furniture.  I  wonder  how  it  would 
seem  to  earn  one's  own  living,  and  count  pennies 
to  see  whether  you  could  afford  a  new  pair  of 
gloves  ?" 

"  It  would  be  dreadful  !  I've  been  thinking 
about  you,  Milly,  ever  since  you  came  here,  and 
I  am  very  sorry  for  you.  But  there  is  one  way  a 
woman  can  retrieve  her  fortune  honorably,  and  I 


60  All  for  -Money. 

am  sure  that  way  will  be  open  to  you.  You 
must  marry  a  rich  man." 

"  I  wouldn't  object  to  that,  provided  the  man 
was  handsome  and  agreeable,  and  I  loved  him," 
replied  the  young  girl,  gayly. 

"  As  handsome  and  agreeable  as  Mr.  Wyatt, 
for  instance." 

"  Now,  auntie,  isn't  he  just  splendid  ?  It's  too 
bad  he  lost  his  money.  But  that's  always  the 
way.  Most  all  the  rich  men  are  old  and  ugly, 
and  so  disagreeable.  And  to  think  girls  will 
marry  them  !  I  would  starve  first." 

"  Then  we  must  take  care  that  the  fairy  prince 
who  comes  a  wooing  you  is  neither  old,  nor  ugly, 
nor  disagreeable.  If  he  is,  you  will  reject  him." 

"  Yes,  indeed  I  will,  auntie." 

"  But  you  must  remember,  Milly,  that  you  can't 
expect  perfection,  and  fortunes  are  not  made  in  a 
day.  It  takes  years  to  amass  a  fortune,  and  men 
will  grow  old  while  they  are  making  money." 

"  But  uncle  was  not  old  when  you  were  mar 
ried." 

"No,  Milly.  Neither  was  he  rich.  But  he 
had  made  a  good  start  in  life,  and  my  father  saiJ 


A  Girl's  Decision.  61 

he  was  sure  to  accumulate  property.  So  I  ac 
cepted  him,  though  it  took  me  a  long  time  to 
make  up  my  mind." 

"  You  loved  him,  didn't  you  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes.  He  was  fine-looking,  and  my  young 
lady  friends  all  admired  him  ;  so  there  was  the 
pleasure  of  knowing  that  they  envied  me.  I 
really  cared  for  him,  too,  but  then,  I  was  never 
such  a  romantic  little  thing  as  you  are.  The  fact 
was,  we  hadn't  much  money  to  live  on  at  home, 
and  we  girls  were  tired  of  trying  to  keep  up 
appearances.  It  is  hard  work,  Milly  ;  the  hard 
est  a  woman  can  do.  You  don't  know  anything 
about  it,  and  I  hope  you  never  will.  Why,  I've 
seen  the  time  when  I  would  have  been  willing  to 
work  all  night  to  earn  enough  to  buy  a  neck- 
ribbon,  if  I  could  have  done  it  without  having 
people  know  it." 

"  What  if  people  had  known  it,  auntie  ?" 

"  We  should  have  lost  our  position  in  society. 
You  don't  associate  with  working  girls." 

"  But  why  shouldn't  I  ?  The  girls  I  see  in 
shops  are  as  ladylike  as  the  girls  in  our  set,  and 
I  don't  doubt  they  are  just  as  good.  There  is 


62  All  for  Money. 

Hester  Downing.  She  used  to  be  in  the  semi 
nary  with  me,  and  she  was  the  best  and  loveliest 
of  us  all.  She  is  in  a  millinery  store  now,  trim 
ming  bonnets,  and  making  the  sweetest  hats 
anybody  can  think  of.  She  could  always  arrange 
laces  and  flowers  more  artistically  than  any  one 
else  ;  and  when  her  father  died,  she  found  he 
hadn't  left  much  property ;  so  she  went  to  work 
to  earn  her  own  living." 

"  How  old  is  she  ?" 

"  Only  a  year  older  than  I  am.  But  she  is  a 
great  deal  more  sensible.  She  says  she  could 
make  a  great  deal  of  money  if  she  could  only 
start  in  business  for  herself." 

"  Where  do  you  see  her  ?" 

"Oh,  I  go  to  see  her  at  home.  I  found  out 
how  little  she  gets  for  the  work  she  does,  so  I 
wanted  to  pay  her  instead  of  her  employer.  She 
makes  my  bonnets,  and  mothers,  too,  and  you'd 
wonder  how  little  they  cost.  She  has  a  faculty  for 
pulling  things  to  pieces  and  making  them  over,  so 
you  couldn't  possibly  recognize  the  old  material." 

"  She  must  be  a  treasure  for  people  who  need 
to  have  such  transformations  accomplished." 


A  Girl's  Decision.  6j 

"  She  is  a  treasure,  any  way  ;  and  she  looks 
prettier  than  ever  in  her  plain  dresses.  But 
you  see,  auntie,  I  could  never  do  as  she 
does." 

"  No,  my  dear.     Why  should  you  ?" 

"  Because  I  must  do  something  to  support 
myself.  To  tell  the  plain  truth,  mamma  and  I 
have  had  a  quarrel,  and  I  can't  expect  her  to 
share  her  property  with  me,  especially  as  she  has 
no  more  than  she  needs  for  herself." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  Mrs.  Harvey. 

For  answer,  Milly  repeated  the  story  she  had 
told  her  uncle,  expressing  her  aversion  to  Mr. 
Esterbrook  even  more  strongly. 

"  I  have  heard  of  him,  and,  so  far  as  money  is 
concerned,  he  would  be  an  unexceptionable 
match,"  said  the  elder  lady,  by  way  of  comment. 
"  Couldn't  you  possibly  overcome  your  aversion 
to  him  ?" 

"  No,  indeed.  Neither  will  I  try.  The  wretch  ! 
If  he  was  good  he  would  be  unbearable.  As  it 
is,  he  is  a  wicked  old  sinner,  without  any 
redeeming  qualities.  I  just  hate  him  !" 

"So  much  that   you   can  see  another  woman 


64  All  for  Money. 

surrounded  with  every  luxury  as  his  wife,  and 
not  envy  her  ?" 

"  Envy  her  !  I  should  pity  her  with  all  my 
heart,  only  I  am  not  sure  she  would  deserve  any 
pity.  No  one  can  be  deceived  in  regard  to  him. 
And  now  comes  the  grand  question,  auntie.  Are 
you  willing  I  should  stay  here  for  a  year  and 
teach  music,  if  I  can  get  scholars  without 
intruding  upon  Miss  Perry  ?" 

Mrs.  Harvey  looked  at  her  companion  in  dumb 
surprise,  until,  when  moved  to  speak,  she  ex 
claimed  :  "  You  are  crazy  to  think  of  such  a 
thing.  The  idea  of  your  drudging  as  a  music- 
teacher  !  It  is  perfectly  absurd.  Stay  here  one 
year,  or  five.  I  shall  be  delighted  to  have  you 
with  me.  But  your  mother  will  never  consent  to 
such  an  arrangement.". 

Decisive  as  this  seemed,  Milly  Legrevv acknowl 
edged  no  defeat.  She  knew  her  power,  and  con 
tinued  to  plead  until  she  gained  a  conditional 
assent  to  her  proposal.  Miss  Perry  was  univer 
sally  esteemed,  and  Mrs.  Harvey  was  quite  will 
ing  her  niece  should  visit  one  who  had  proved  by 
actual  experience  the  hardships  of  a  music 


A  Girls  Decision.  65 

teacher's  life.  Content  to  waive  further  discuss 
ion  at  this  point,  the  young  lady  hastened  to 
speak  of  other  subjects  ;  coming  back  at  last  to 
Mr.  Wyatt. 

"  How  long  is  he  to  remain  here  ?"  she  asked. 

"  I  don't  know,"  was  replied.  "  Your  uncle 
invited  him  here  and  wishes  to  make  his  visit 
agreeable  to  him.  Now,  if  he  was  rich — " 

"  Perhaps  he  will  be  sometime.  If  I  was  in 
his  place  I  would  be — before  I  was  an  old  man, 
too.  I  wonder  if  he  will  invite  me  to  drive  with 
him  this  afternoon  ?" 

"  Leave  me  to  manage  that.  But  don't  flirt 
too  seriously.  Your  mother  would  never  forgive 
me,  and  I  should  never  forgive  myself  if  I  should 
be  a  party  to  an  unfortunate  entanglement.  I 
can  rely  upon  your  discretion." 

'  Yes,  auntie,  you  can  trust  me.  I  am  in  no 
danger  of  falling  in  love  with  a  poor  man,  how 
ever  handsome  he  may  be.  I  couldn't  settle 
down  in  a  small  way,  and  do  housework  till  my 
hands  grew  large,  and  coarse,  and  rough.  No,  I 
couldn't  do  that." 

"  I  hope  you  never  can.     You  might  as  well 


66  All  for  Money. 

bury  yourself  to  commence  with.  I  bo  Hove  in 
the  old  adage: '  When  poverty  comes  in  at  the 
door,  love  flies  out  of  the  window.'  ' 

"Well,  for  all  the  adage  is  old,  I  don't  think 
it  ought  to  be  so.  Everybody  can't  be  rich,  but 
it  seems  as  though  everybody  might  have  love. 
Love  don't  cost  anything." 

"  Romantic  still,  Milly.  I  am  afraid  it  will 
require  a  great  deal  of  discipline  to  cure  you  of 
all  your  girlish  folly." 

"  And  must  I  be  cured  ?  Perhaps  I  shall  be 
an  exception  to  the  general  rule,  and  carry  my 
romance  with  me  all  through  life." 

"  It  will  be  strange  if  you  do.  I  shall  expect 
you  to  become  a  sensible,  matter-of-fact  woman 
within  the  next  ten  years  ;  but  I  am  in  no  hurry 
to  have  you  lay  aside  your  rose-colored  specta 
cles.  They  are  more  becoming  than  green  gog 
gles  ;  and  it  seems  sometimes  as  though  we  must 
wear  one  or  the  other." 

"Then  I  prefer  couleur  de  rose,  and  I  thank 
you  ever  so  much  for  being  so  patient  with  me. 
I  hope  mamma  will  take  me  into  favor  again,  but  I 
am  afraid  it  will  be  a  long  time  first.  I  think  I 


A  Girls  Decision.  6j 

will  call  on  Miss  Perry  this  afternoon,  and  then 
if  I  don't  find  her  at  home,  I  can  call  again  to 
morrow." 

It  was  not  Hermon  Wyatt's  fault  that  the  door 
leading  from  the  conservatory  to  the  library  had 
been  left  ajar.  Hearing  the  sound  of  voices,  he 
had  attempted  to  close  it  ;  but  finding  this  could 
not  be  done  noiselessly,  he  had  resumed  his  seat 
and  taken  up  a  new  magazine.  He  might  have 
left  the  room,  yet  he  chose  to  remain  ;  and  so  it 
was  that  when  Mrs.  Harvey  and  her  niece  had 
finished  their  consultation,  he  was  tolerably  well 
informed  in  regard  to  the  young  lady's  sentiments 
and  prospects.  He  understood,  also,  how  he  was 
himself  regarded,  and  cursed  his  poverty  as  never 
before. 

As  a  matter  of  justice,  I  should  say  that  his 
conscience  accused  him  for  having  played  the 
part  of  listener.  He  was  far  too  honorable  to  seek 
to  wrest  from  others  their  secrets  ;  and  now  that 
they  were  in  his  possession  he  would  guard  them 
sacredly.  The  offending  door  was  shut,  and  no 
one  would  ever  suspect  the  revelation  which  had 
been  made. 


68  All  for  Money. 

The  afternoon  was  as  pleasant  as  that  of  the 
previous  day,  and  MillyLegrew  enjoyed  a  delight 
ful  drive.  Nothing  was  wanting  which  could 
add  to  her  pleasure.  She  knew  she  was  looking 
her  best.  Her  companion  was  agreeable.  He 
could  manage  the  spirited  horses  he  held  in  hand 
without  for  a  moment  neglecting  her,  or  seeming 
unmindful  of  her  comfort.  She  threw  care  to  the 
winds,  and  laughed  a  gleeful  accompaniment  to 
the  merry  music  of  the  bells. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  PRICE   OF  MONEY. 

GIRL'S  laugh,  idle  and  foolish  and 
sweet,"  decided  Herman  Wyatt's  future 
course.  When  he  returned  from  driving 
with  Milly  Legrew,  he  was  ready  to  accept  any 
proposal  which  would  ensure  to  him  the  rapid 
acquisition  of  wealth. 

This,  Mr.  Harvey  could  plainly  see.  Yet  he 
was  too  wise  to  betray  his  consciousness  ;  and 
moreover,  other  interests  demanded  attention. 
A  letter  had  been  received  from  his  sister-in-law, 
in  which  she  complained  of  the  folly  and  disobe 
dience  of  her  daughter  ;  urging  upon  him  the 
duty  of  sending  her  home  at  once. 

"  Milly  has  some  romantic  notions  which  will 
utterly  ruin  her  prospects  in  life,  unless  they  can 
be  driven  out  of  her  head.  If  you  can  bring  her  to 


7#  All  for  Money. 

her  senses  I  shall  be  thankful.  She  is  beggarly 
poor,  and  knows  no  more  what  it  means  than 
a  baby.  It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  she 
should  be  here  within  three  days,  or  all  is 
lost." 

The  young  lady  thus  criticised  uttered  an  ex 
pression  of  impatience,  as  the  letter  was  refolded 
and  laid  upon  the  table  ;  adding  :  "  That  means 
that  my  mother  has  told  old  Esterbrook  a  plausi 
ble  story  to  account  for  my  absence,  and  that 
within  three  days  I  shall  give  him  a  title  to  my 
precious  self;  said  title  to  be  witnessed  and 
sealed  in  Grace  Church  some  time  during  the 
holidays.  Are  you  going  to  send  me  back  ?" 
she  asked,  with  a  smile  half  defiant  and  half  ap 
pealing. 

"  No,  child,  I  am  not.  I  would  as  soon  send 
you  to  perdition  as  to  that  old  reprobate.  I  shall 
write  to  your  mother  very  plainly  about  him." 

"  Oh,  if  you  only  would,  I  should  be  so  grate 
ful.  But  I  think  auntie  was  inclined  to  agree 
with  mamma." 

"  That  was  because  she  didn't  understand.  She 
didn't  know  the  man's  character  as  I  do.  I  won- 


The  Price  of  Money.  77 

der  what  women  can  be  thinking  of  when  they 
smile  upon  such  fellows." 

"  Why,  you  see  it  is  the  money,  uncle.  You 
don't  suppose  any  woman  with  common  sense 
can  really  like  such  an  eld  wretch  ;  not  to  say 
anything  about  loving,  honoring  and  obeying 
him  ?" 

"  I  shouldn't  suppose  it  would  be  possible  for 
any  woman  to  love  him,  and  probably  he  has 
brains  enough  not  to  expect  it.  He  counts  upon 
his  ability  to  pay  in  good  currency  for  all  the 
favors  he  receives." 

"  For  once  he  reckoned  without  his  hostess. 
I  kuow  it  doesn't  seem  quite  honorable  to  talk 
about  him  as  I  do,  and  I  never  understood  how  a 
girl  of  delicacy  could  boast  of  the  offers  she  re 
ceives.  But  this  affair  is  so  absurd,  I  think  I  am 
justified." 

"I  think  you  are.  At  any  rate  I  shall  sustain 
you,  and  I  shall  enlighten  your  mother  upon 
some  points  of  which  she  seems  to  be  ignorant." 

Mrs.  Legrew  had  expected  that  her  daughter 
would  make  some  objections  to  marrying  the 
millionaire  :  but  she  had  not  dreamed  of  so  pos- 


js  All  for  Money. 

itive  and  persistent  a  refusal.  It  must  be  con 
fessed  that  she  found  herself  in  an  embarrassing 
position.  She  had  manoeuvred  to  secure  the  offer 
of  marriage  so  ungraciously  declined,  and  it  re 
quired  her  utmost  diplomacy  to  appease  the  anger 
of  the  mortified  suitor. 

She  insisted  that  her  daughter  had  been  too 
much  surprised  to  give  a  considerate  reply,  and 
that  a  young  girl  must  be  expected  to  have  some 
unreasonable  fancies.  She  even  cited  her  daugh 
ter's  absence  to  prove  the  truth  of  her  assertions. 

To  say  that  Mr.  Esterbrook  was  fully  convinced 
by  her  flattery  and  cajolery  would  not  be  true, 
but  he  had  too  much  at  stake  to  express  his 
want  of  confidence.  He  could  afford  to  wait,  and 
he  resolved  to  do  so. 

He  was  vindictive.  No  one  had  ever  made 
him  an  enemy  without  feeling  the  force  of  his 
revenge  ;  and  even  now  there  was  a  fearful  retri 
bution  in  store  for  Milly  Legrew,  if  she  should 
place  herself  in  his  power.  He  smiled,  however, 
upon  the  lady  mother ;  professed  himself  the 
most  devoted  of  lovers  ;  and  said  with  great 
semblance  of  humility  that  he  ought  not  to 


-  The  Price  of  Money.  73 

expect  to  win  the  crowning  glory  of  his  life  too 
easily. 

Alone  in  his  private  room,  he  scowled  malig 
nantly,  muttering  oaths  between  his  false  teeth, 
and  vowing  vengeance  upon  any  woman  who 
would  trifle  with  him  or  attempt  to  deceive  him. 
He  was  in  his  worst  possible  humor,  as  his  ser 
vant  found  when  summoned  to  do  his  bidding. 

Three  days,  and  he  would  know  beyond  a 
doubt  if  she  whom  he  had  selected  to  be  his  con 
fidential  attendant  and  nurse  had  decided  to 
make  the  necessary  sacrifice.  He  resolutely 
turned  away  from  the  mirror  in  which  he  saw 
a  too  faithful  reflection  of  himself ;  took  from  a 
cabinet  a  package  of  papers  and  began  to  compute 
his  gains  for  the  past  week.  But  even  this  did 
not  distract  his  thoughts  from  the  unwelcome 
subject. 

Had  he  known  that  Milly  Legrew  was  the 
guest  of  Leander  Harvey  he  would  never  have 
called  again  at  her  mother's.  As  it  was  he  went 
at  the  appointed  time,  and,  to  his  chagrin,  re 
ceived  from  the  servant  a  highly  perfumed  and 
exquisitely  written  note,  which  he  well  knew 


74  '  All  for  Money. 

contained  a  confirmation  of  his  fears.  The  mother 
had  failed  in  her  plans  ;  and  in  place  of  gratitude 
for  her  intentions,  he  cherished  the  most  bitter 
hatred. 

He  hastened  to  his  hotel,  and  after  reading 
the  first  lines  of  the  note,  crushed  it  in  his  hand 
until  the  withered  fingers  relaxed  their  hold  from 
sheer  weakness.  He  then  lighted  a  match  and 
burned  the  crumpled  paper  to  ashes. 

The  following  evening  he  was  due  at  a  fashion 
able  party,  and  looking  around  to  decide  upon  a 
fitting  victim  to  wear  the  crown  of  martyrdom 
which  he  had  gilded,  his  gaze  rested  upon  Stella 
Bond  ;  a  brunette  whose  sparkling  eyes,  handsome 
face,  and  well-rounded  figure  won  for  her  deserved 
admiration.  She  rejoiced  in  her  dower  of  beauty, 
yet  she  would  have  exchanged  it  gladly  for  the 
plain  looks  of  some  of  her  companions,  if  with 
them  she  might  have  taken  the  wealth  whose 
adornings  can  so  nearly  supply  the  lack  of 
personal  charms. 

She  shrank  from  the  dependent  position  she 
occupied  in  her  stepfather's  house,  and  from  the 
grudging  allowance  made  for  her  wants  ;  while, 


The  Price  of  Money.  75 

like  Spanish  beauties,  whom  she  resembled,  she 
was  too  indolent  to  apply  herself  to  work  of  any 
kind.  One  lesson  she  had  been  well  taught,  and 
had  thoroughly  learned.  She  must  marry  a  rich 
man.  A  fairy  prince  must  be  found.  Young  or 
old,  grave  or  gay,  it  mattered  little.  Once 
secured,  she  would  bide  the  fate  to  which  he 
bound  her  without  a  murmur. 

Daniel  Esterbrook  was  as  disagreeable  to  her 
as  to  Milly  Legrew.  But  she  listened  to  his 
compliments  ;  smiled  in  reply,  and  received  his 
attentions  with  becoming  sweetness.  There 
were  a  few  interviews,  almost  intolerable  in  their 
stupidity  ;  a  few  drives  in  which  it  was  possible 
to  ignore  the  owner  of  the  equipage  which  flat 
tered  her  vanity,  and  the  wedding-day  was  ap 
pointed. 

The  bridegroom  elect  pleaded  for  short  delay, 
and  Stella  Bond  had  no  wish  to  prolong  the  woo 
ing.  He  knew  her  dependence,  and  governed 
his  conduct  accordingly.  He  brought  her  rolls 
of  money,  and  gave  them  to  her  as  freely  as 
though  they  were  of  little  value.  For  the  first 
time  in  her  life  she  could  gratify  her  tastes  with- 


76  All  for  Momy. 

out  counting  the  cost.  Her  bridal  trousseau  was 
the  most  elegant  which  had  ever  been  seen  in 
the  city.  Then  came  the  wedding  gifts  of  jewels, 
and  shawls,  and  laces,  such  as  a  queen  might 
wear.  Her  most  extravagant  wishes  were  gra 
tified  ;  but  alas,  for  the  price  of  this  splendor  1 

Meanwhile  Milly  Legrew rejoiced  in  her  escape 
from  the  toils  of  her  enemies.  Her  uncle  laugh 
ingly  professed  himself  ready  to  adopt  her,  and 
even  wrote  to  her  mother  that  he  would  gladly 
take  the  responsibility  of  providing  for  the  ro 
mantic  girl  until  she  chose  to  leave  him.  The 
matter  of  self-support  was  not  so  easily  adjusted, 
but  there  was  a  prospect  that  she  who  was  most 
interested  would  eventually  decide  it  for  herself. 
She  called  upon  Miss  Perry,  who  talked  frankly 
both  of  the  profits  and  trials  of  the  work  in  which 
she  proposed  to  engage. 

"  Then  you  would  begin  anew  and  live  the  lust 
twenty  years  all  over  again,  before  you  would 
marry  a  man  who  was  disagreeable  to  you, 
wouldn't  you  ?"  said  the  young  girl  triumphantly, 
after  a  somewhat  prolonged  conversation. 

"  Indeed  I  would,"  was  the  quick  reply.     "  That 


The  Price  of  Money.  JJ 

is  just  what  I  have  done.  It  is  not  a  pleasant 
thing  to  be  poor  ;  but  such  poverty  as  people 
know  who  can  have  comfortable  homes  as  the 
reward  of  hard  work,  is  not  a  curse.  I  have  often 
thought  if  my  parents  could  look  upon  it  as  I 
did  I  should  have  nothing  to  regret.  The  world 
is  making  a  great  mistake  in  sacrificing  so  much 
of  truth  and  honesty  in  the  mad  haste  to  be  rich. 
You  can't  understand  this  as  we  older  people  do/' 
added  the  speaker,  with  a  smile  which  quite 
irradiated  her  face.  "I  have  been  looking  out 
from  my  retreat,  and  I  have  found  more  cause 
for  rejoicing  than  for  repining.  Then  there  is 
a  compensation  which  comes  sometimes  with  the 
necessity  of  making  the  most  of  limited  means. 
We  learn  how  much  beauty  there  is  in  homely 
things  ;  and  the  best  we  can  command  is  seldom 
so  bad  that  it  has  not  something  to  relieve  it 
from  positive  discomfort." 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  hear  you  say  that,  Miss 
Perry  ;  because  you  see  I  have  always  heard 
people  talk  as  though  it  took  a  great  deal  of 
money  to  be  at  all  comfortable  or  happy." 

"  Happiness  is  not  for  sale.     It  comes  to  us  as 


78  ALL  f of  Money. 

naturally  as  the  air,  or  sunshine,  provided  always 
that  we  are  worthy  of  it." 

"But  think,  Miss  Perry,  how  many  complain." 

"  Yes,  I  hear  complaining  every  day,  and  some 
times  I  am  tempted  to  complain  myself.  But  I 
have  fewer  trials  than  some  of  my  neighbors,  if 
they  do  pity  me  for  my  hard  lot." 

"  You  must  be  very  tired." 

"  Yes,  and  I  should  be  if  I  was  differently  situ 
ated.  You  have  been  very  tired  after  attending 
a  fashionable  party.  Everything  was  not  just  as 
you  would  have  liked  it." 

"  I  know  it.  There  is  almost  always  some 
thing  wrong.  Then  I  couldn't  avoid  being  tired. 
But  I  could  rest  afterwards,  and  teachers  can't 
always  rest  when  they  need  to." 

"  And  yet  you  propose  to  be  a  teacher." 

"I  do,  if  there  is  room  for  me  here  without  in 
terfering  with  you." 

|  "There  is  plenty  of  room,  Miss  Legrew.  I 
will  recommend  you  to  some  of  my  older  pupils 
who  will  be  very  glad  to  practice  under  your  di 
rection.  Now  that  my  expenses  are  reduced,  I 
can  afford  to  give  myself  a  little  leisure.  It 


The  Price  of  Money.  JQ 

sometimes  seems  hardly  worth  while  for  me  to 
work  at  all,  when  I  have  no  one  to  share  the 
results  of  my  work." 

Milly  was  delighted  with  her  visit.  She 
thought  Miss  Perry  quite  a  charming  woman, 
and  expressed  her  opinion  with  great  enthu 
siasm. 

"  I  don't  wonder  your  mother  calls  you 
romantic,"  said  her  aunt.  "  Your  feelings  will 
tone  down  by  and  by." 

"  I  hope  not,  auntie.  I  like  to  be  just  so 
much  pleased  with  people  and  things." 

"  But  you  are  not  always  pleased." 

"  Then  I  am  displeased.  But  there  is  a  hearty 
feeling,  and  that  is  something  to  be  glad  of. 
When  I  was  with  Miss  Perry,  it  didn't  seem 
such  a  misfortune  to  lose  my  money." 

"  It  may  not  be  in  the  end,  but  I  think  you 
love  ease  and  luxury,  and  it  takes  money  to  buy 
them."  ' 

"  I  suppose  it  does,  but  as  I  have  not  the 
money,  I  must  do  without." 

"  I  wouldn't  be  too  sure  of  that,  Milly,  child," 
said  her  uncle,  who  had  overheard  her  last  re- 


8o  All  for  Money. 

mark.  "  All  the  money  in  this  world  is  not  in 
the  hands  of  old,  ugly  men.  We  will  surprise 
your  mother  some  day.  You  can  stay  here  for  a 
year  or  two  and  make  yourself  happy,  if  your 
mother  does  not  claim  you.  If  your  happiness 
depends  upon  listening  to  wretched  music  and 
guiding  awkward  fingers  over  piano  keys,  you 
shall  even  do  that.  I  shall  make  no  more  ob 
jections  to  it,  only  don't  be  in  haste  to  com 
mence.  Wait  for  a  month  and  see  what  will 
happen." 

Mr.  Harvey  was  really  sorry  for  the  misfortune 
of  his  niece,  yet  he  was  too  much  elated  at  hav 
ing  been  able  to  recall  an  unsafe  investment  of 
his  own,  to  indulge  in  undue  anxiety.  He  had 
now  a  large  amount  of  money  in  hand,  and  it 
was  against  his  usual  practice  to  allow  his  treas 
ures  to  corrode  from  neglect.  Each  dollar  must 
earn  for  him  another. 

He  was  impatient  to  know  of  a  surety  how 
this  should  be  done ;  yet  he  waited  until  a 
fortnight  after  the  conversation  with  his  cousin 
in  regard  to  a  partnership,  before  again  mention 
ing  the  subject. 


The  Price  of  Money.  Si 

"  I  suppose  you  have  considered  thj  proposal 
T  made  to  you,"  he  then  said  : 

"  Yes,  sir,"  was  the  laconic  reply. 

"  And  your  decision  is  made  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  hope  it  is  a  favorable  one." 

"  It  accords  with  your  wishes." 

"And  you  will  appear  as  the  purchaser  of  the 
store  in  question  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  that.  I  knew  so  sensible 
a  man  as  you  are,  Cousin  Wyatt,  would  see  the 
folly  of  letting  such  a  chance  to  make  a  fortune 
slip  through  your  fingers.  It  would  have  been  a 
great  mistake." 

"  From  one  .  standpoint,  it  would  :  from 
another  it  would  not.  I  am  by  no  means  certain 
that  I  am  not  making  the  mistake  of  my  life  in 
going  into  such  a  business." 

"Such  a  business  !"  repeated  Mr.  Harvey,  upon 
whom  the  covert  sneer  contained  in  these  last 
words  had  not  been  lost.  "  I  hope  you'll  not 
condemn  yourself  by  condemning  a  legal  traffic." 

"  I  shall  say  nothing  about  it  ;  but  I  may  as 


82  All  for  Money. 

well  tell  you  the  truth  now,  so  that  there  may  be 
a  fair  understanding  between  us,"  was  responded, 
a  little  sharply.  "  I  think  of  the  liquor  traffic 
just  as  I  have  always  thought.  I  have  not 
changed  my  opinion  of  it.  The  laws  of  the 
country  recognize  it  as  a  branch  of  industry,  but 
that  has  nothing  to  do  with  it  as  a  moral  act.  I 
am  going  to  accept  your  offer  simply  because  I 
don't  know  what  else  to  do,  and  I  believe  I  can 
make  money  by  it." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  you  talk  like  this, 
Cousin  Wyatt.  A  man  is  not  apt  to  succeed  in 
an  undertaking  unless  he  goes  into  it  with  a  good 
will." 

"  I  shall  succeed  in  making  money.  There's 
nothing  a  man  will  pay  so  much  for  as  for 
gratifying  his  appetite.  But  for  all  that,  selling 
liquor  is  poor  business." 

"  If  I  thought  as  you  do,  I  would  never  put 
money  into  the  trade.  I  consider  it  as  honora 
ble  as  I  know  it  is  profitable." 

Hermon  Wyatt  did  not  dispute  this  assertion. 
Yet  he  was  as  certain  that  the  love  of  money 
ruled  in  his  cousin's  heart  as  in  his  own.  He 


The  Price  of  Money.  83 

despised  himself,  as  the  terms  of  partnership  were 
arranged,  but  one  consideration  held  him  to  his 
purpose. 

He  had  no  reason  to  complain  of  these  terms. 
They  were  even  more  generous  than  he  had 
anticipated. 

It  was  past  midnight  when  the  two  men  sepa 
rated,  and  the  next  morning,  after  mutual  greet 
ings,  Mr.  Harvey  remarked  :  "  Cousin  Wyatt 
thinks  he  must  leave  us  to-morrow.  I  told  him 
that  we  should  miss  him  very  much." 

"  Indeed  we  shall  miss  him,"  rejoined  his 
hostess ;  and  turning  to  the  gentleman,  she  said, 
in  her  blandest  tone  :  "  You  seem  like  an  old 
friend  rather  than  a  new-found  cousin.  Milly  and 
I  shall  be  lonely  without  you." 

Milly  looked  up,  smiled,  blushed,  and  to  her 
extreme  vexation,  found  it  impossible  to  utter  a 
single  word.  She  had  known,  of  course,  that  the 
gentleman  was  only  a  visitor,  yet  she  had  quite 
ignored  this  fact.  She  was  accustomed  to  atten 
tion,  and  his  presence  had  done  much  to  divert 
her  thoughts  from  the  loss  she  as  yet  hardly 
realized 


84  All  for  Money. 

With  an  effort  she  recovered  her  self-possession, 
and  said,  gayly  :  "  Uncle  Harvey,  it  was  hardly 
fair  to  make  such  an  announcement  so  early  in 
the  day.  Auntie  and  I  had  our  plans  all  made 
for  the  next  twenty-four  hours.  If  one  gentle 
man  goes  we  must  press  another  into  service." 

"  Service  is  what  you  ladies  always  expect. 
And  you  think  it  will  require  some  pressure  to 
reduce  me  to  servitude,  do  you  ?"  was  the 
quick  reply. 

"  He  who  renders  service  gladly  is  no  servant." 
"Thank    you   for   that,    Mr.   Wyatt.     Now    I 
know  we  shall  miss  you  sadly,  unless  uncle  can  be 
made  to  appreciate  his  privileges." 

Thus,  in  light  badinage  and  raillery  passed  the 
breakfast  hour.  Many  a  true  word  was  spoken 
jestingly,  and  many  a  smile  concealed  a  sincere 
regret. 

Again  Hermon  Wyatt  was  standing  by  the 
window  through  which  he  had  looked  out  upon 
the  November  storm.  Now  there  was  a  cloud 
less  sky.  Not  a  shadow  dimmed  the  brightness. 
Far  as  the  eye  could  see  was  one  vast  expanse  of 
blue. 


The  Price  of  Money.  8$ 

It  seemed  to  him  who  gazed  upon  this  light 
and  glory  that  his  very  soul  was  stripped  of  all 
disguises  before  the  Almighty  Father.  He  had 
fancied  that  when  once  the  pledge  was  given 
which  bound  him  to  his  cousin  he  would  have  no 
more  misgivings.  Now,  alone,  apart  from  the 
influences  which  had  constrained  him,  save  his 
own  cravings  for  wealth,  he  realized  how  low  he 
had  fallen. 


CHAPTER   V. 


THE     CORNER     STORE 

HY  was  Lcander  Harvey  unwilling  that 
his  name  should  appear  as  the  pur 
chaser  of  a  first-class  liquor  store  ? 
Why  did  he  insist  upon  such  an  arrangement  as 
would  screen  him  from  all  public  complicity  in 
the  business  ?  Why  also,  if  he  really  wished  to 
benefit  his  cousin,  did  he  not  advance  money  to 
reinstate  the  young  man  in  some  familiar  depart 
ment  of  trade  ? 

All  these  and  many  kindred  questions  sug 
gested  themselves  to  Hermon  Wyatt  as  he 
neared  the  city  of  his  destination,  and  answers 
followed  fast  upon  them. 

After  all  the  boasted  legality  of  the  traffic, 
and  the  pretense  of  its  necessity,  both  as  a  source 
of  revenue  to  the  government  and  a  response  to 


The,   Corner  Store.  87 

the  demands  of  community,  there  were  obvious 
reasons  why  the  gentleman  chose  that  another 
than  himself  should  take  the  advanced  post. 
There  was  a  sentiment  abroad  adverse  to  his 
expressed  opinions  ;  and  it  might  be  that  this 
sentiment  would  finally  prevail.  In  one  direction 
he  must  receive  full  credit.  He  had  never  pro 
fessed  to  be  actuated  by  disinterested  motives. 
While  regarding  only  his  own  advantage,  he 
had  decided  that  his  cousin  was  the  very  person 
to  assist  him,  and  he  had  made  no  effort  to  con 
ceal  his  real  motive.  Everything  had  been  done 
fairly  and  openly.  He  was  ready  to  fulfil  his  part 
of  the  contract,  so  that  his  partner  would  have  no 
cause  for  complaint. 

"  Ah,  Wyatt,  so  you  are  not  quite  annihilated," 
said  a  middle-aged  man  who  entered  the  cars, 
and  looking  around,  recognized  him  as  an 
acquaintance. 

"Not  quite,"  was  the  reply.  "I  hope  you 
have  weathered  the  storm." 

"I  have  so  far,  and  I  hope  the  worst  is  over. 
Going  to  start  again  ?" 

"  That  is  my  intention." 


$8  All  for  Money. 

"  Better  not  hurry  about  it.  Things  will 
straighten  themselves  out  by  spring,  so  a  man 
can  tell  where  he  is.  Going  into  your  old  busi 
ness,  I  suppose  ?" 

"  No,  sir.  I  should  be  glad  to,  but  there's  no 
opening  for  me  in  that.  I'm  going  to  try  some 
thing  new." 

"Any  objection  to  telling  what  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  why  I  should  have.  I'm  on  my 
way  to  buy  Landers'  block  for  a  man  who  wishes 
to  invest  money  there." 

"  Landers,  the  wine  merchajit  ?" 

"Yes,  I  suppose  so.  I  never  heard  of  him  till 
within  three  weeks.  In  these  days  a  man  can't 
always  choose  his  occupation.  I  found  I  couldn't." 

"So  you're  going  into  the  store  yourself?" 

"  That  is  the  understanding." 

"  Well,  you'll  make  a  good  thing  of  it  if  you 
share  in  the  profits.  Landers  begun  on  a  small 
scale  and  worked  his  way  up.  Had  a  good  trade, 
and  the  old  customers  will  keep  right  along  if 
they're  well  treated.  Landers  liked  his  own 
liquors  a  little  too  well  the  last  of  his  life,  but  he 
was  an  honorable  man  to  do  business  with.  I 


The  Corner  Store.  89 

shouldn't  thought  of  your  stepping  into  his  shoes 
though." 

"  I  shouldn't  have  thought  of  it  for  myself.  It's 
entirely  out  of  my  line.  But  it  came  to  me,  and 
I  took  the  chance." 

"Well,  I've  no  doubt  you'll  do  well.  Only 
take  care  that  you  don't  fall  into  Landers' 
mistake.  Here  we  are.  Good  morning." 

Was  the  speaker's  manner  less  cordial,  or  was 
the  seeming  coldness  only  seeming  ? 

By  appointment,  Hermon  Wyatt  was  to  meet 
Mr.  Harvey's  friend,  the  dealer  in  liquors,  to 
whom  reference  has  been  already  made.  No 
sooner  had  he  glanced  at  the  stranger,  than  he 
felt  a  keen  disappointment.  This  man  might  be 
munificent  in  his  gifts,  but  never  benevolent.  He 
might  be  respectable,  but  never  truly  honorable. 
He  might  wield  a  powerful  influence  by  his 
wealth,  but  never  by  his  personal  presence, 
i  He  was  happy  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  one 
who  had  been  so  highly  recommended  to  him, 
and  proceeded  at  once  to  speak  of  the  business 
which  had  brought  them  together.  He  had  been 
consulted  weeks  before  by  his  old  friend,  and  had 


<?#  All  for  Money. 

made  a  careful  examination  of  the  entire  property 
now  offered  for  sale  ;  building,  stock,  and  fix 
tures.  He  named  a  sum  which  he  considered  a 
fair  price,  yet  thought  that  it  could  be  purchased 
for  considerably  less. 

"  The  bulk  of  Landers'  estate  is  to  be  held  in 
trust  for  the  benefit  of  his  sons,  and  the  trustees 
are  anxious  to  dispose  of  this  part  of  it.  It's  a 
great  pity,  but  the  sons  are  dissipated,  and  their 
father  took  this  way  to  provide  against  their  com 
ing  to  want.  It's  a  hard  time  to  raise  money,  but 
that  will  be  for  the  advantage  of  the  purchaser. 
I  told  Harvey  he  would  never  have  a  better 
chance  to  invest  some  of  his  loose  capital.  I've 
had  an  eye  to  it  ever  since  it's  been  in  the 

market,  and  shall  be  glad  to  give  you  any  advice 

• 
or  assistance  in  my  power. 

"Thank  you.  Mr.  Harvey  told  me  that  he 
should  rely  upon  your  judgment.  I  know  nothing 
of  the  value  of  the  movable  property  and  shall 
be  guided  entirely  by  you." 

"  I  consider  myself  a  good  judge,  and  will  give 
you  the  benefit  of  my  knowledge.  If  you  man 
age  right  you  can  be  a  rich  man  in  ten  years." 


The  Corner  Store.  91 

"  I  hope  so.  Nothing  but  the  expectation  of 
that  would  induce  me  to  touch  the  business." 

"  My  friend  told  me  you  had  some  scruples  in 
regard  to  it.  I  understand  all  that  sort  of  thing. 
I  have  sifted  scruples  until  you  couldn't  see  them. 
I  believe  in  temperance,  and  trust  that  my  cus 
tomers  believe  in  it  too.  We  have  the  law  on 
our  side,  and  as  long  as  we  can  look  to  that  for 
support,  fanatics  can't  make  much  headway 
against  us.  I  take  out  a  license,  pay  my  fee,  and 
then  go  on  as  I  think  best.  You  are  no  judge  of 
wines  ?" 

"  Never  tasted  a  drop  of- wine  in  my  life,  and 
never  wanted  to." 

"  Well,  I  must  confess,  you  are  a  strange 
fellow  to  take  up  the  trade.  But  you  will  learn 
all  that,  and  till  then,  I  can  furnish  you  a  man 
who  knows  how  to  manage.  He  can  tell  to  a 
drop  when  a  liquor  is  all  right.  He  used  to  be 
with  me  till  he  got  so  I  couldn't  trust  him.  He 
wouldn't  keep  sober  long  enough  to  do  his  regu 
lar  v/ork.  He's  so  poor  now,  he'll  do  better  for  a 
while,  and  be  thankful  enough  for  a  job.  I  advise 
you,  though,  to  keep  an  eye  on  him.  He  has 


$2  All  for  Money. 

gone  down  terribly.  He  was  a  fine  young  man 
when  he  first  came  to  me.  Now  he  is  no  better 
than  a  sot,  and  far  gone  in  health  for  that.  You 
can't  expect  to  get  along  now  without  tasting  of 
wine." 

"  I  intend  to.  I  don't  propose  to  make  a  sot 
of  myself." 

"  Of  course  not.  But  there's  a  vast  difference 
between  tasting  of  liquor  and  pouring  it  down  by 
the  quantity,  as  some  men  do.  Liquor  isn't 
always  just  what  you  want  it  to  be,  and  it  pays  a 
merchant  to  look  after  his  own  doctoring.  Then, 
sometimes  we  find  it  profitable  to  do  a  little 
manufacturing  from  the  raw  material." 

"  I  don't  understand.  You  import  your  liquors, 
don't  you,  except  what  is  distilled  in  this  coun 
try  ?" 

"  Bless  you  man,  yes,  but  there's  not  a  quarter 
part  enough  wine  shipped  to  this  country  to  sup 
ply  the  trade.  It  must  be  had  some  way,  and 
we  may  as  well  make  the  profits  as  anybody. 
The  man  I'll  send  you  is  posted  in  such 
business." 

"  But  Mr.  Harvey  said   he  was   sure  of  getting 


The  Corner  Store.  pj 

the  genuine  article  when  he  ordered  his  wine 
from  you,"  said  Hermon  Wyatt. 

"  I  never  sell  poor  liquor,"  was  the  prompt  re 
ply,  "  I  deal  honorably  with  all  my  customers. 
Mr.  Harvey  told  me  he  was  to  have  nothing  to 
do  with  the  management  of  the  business.  He 
leaves  that  entirely  with  you." 

"  That  is  the  understanding." 

"  Then  there  is  no  need  of  initiating  him  into 
the  mysteries  of  the  trade.  He  is  a  shrewd 
financier  and  keeps  an  eye  out  to  see  where 
money  can  be  made.  If  he  gets  his  share  of  the 
profits,  he'll  not  be  likely  to  ask  many  questions. 
Now  thai  we've  disposed  of  that,  we  may  as  well 
come  to  some  conclusion  about  the  bargain  to 
be  made.  You  are  the  man  to  attend  to  that, 
and  you  are  prepared  to  make  an  offer.  Don't 
give  a  dollar  more  than  you  are  obliged  to,  but 
don't  lose  your  chance,  even  if  you  have  to  pay  a 
fair  value.  Every  man  must  look  out  for  his  own 
interests,  and  leave  others  to  take  care  of  them 
selves.  That's  the  correct  way,  isn't  it,  Mr. 
Wyatt  ?" 

"  That's  the  usual  way,"  responded  the  younger 


p^  All  for  Money. 

man,  who  felt  himself  positively  repelled  by  his 
companion. 

"The  proper  way  too.  If  you  make  an  offer 
for  a  piece  of  property,  and  your  offer  is  accepted, 
you  are  under  no  obligation  to  inquire  the  rea 
son  why  it  was  accepted.  So  if  you  have  any 
kind  of  goods  to  sell,  and  people  choose  to  buy 
them,  it's  not  your  duty  to  undervalue  them. 
We  offer  our  liquors  and  somebody  buys  them. 
The  baker  heaps  loaves  of  bread  upon  his  counter 
and  somebody  buys  the  bread.  They  are  both 
fair  transactions  in  the  way  of  trade.  I  wish  you 
success  in  your  new  enterprise,  and  if  I  can  ever 
be  of  any  assistance  to  you  I  shall  be  at  your 
service." 

How  Hermon  Wyatt  chafed  at  the  patronizing 
manner  of  his  adviser.  But  for  the  memory  of 
Milly  Legrewand  her  luxurious  tastes  he  would 
even  now  have  receded  from  his  engagement. 
Again  the  battle  was  fought,  and  again  wrong 
was  triumphant. 

Two  days  were  spent  in  negotiations.  Landers' 
block  exchanged  owners,  and  a  teetotaler  be 
came  the  purchaser  of  a  large  stock  of  liquors, 


The  Corner  Store. 


95 


all  of  which  were  offered  to  the  public  as  pure 
and  unadulterated.  Mr.  Reeves  sent  the  assist 
ant  who  had  been  promised,  and  the  man 
presented  himself  to  his  new  employer,  sober 
and  well  dressed. 

"  What  have  you  for  me  to  do,  sir  ?"  he 
asked. 

"  I  don't  know,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  don't 
know  what  needs  to  be  done  ;  and  if  I  did  I  don't 
know  how  to  do  it.  Mr.  Reeves  said  I  could 
depend  upon  you." 

"Yes,  sir,  I  know  the  dodges  as  well  as  any 
body.  The  only  trouble  with  me  is  that  I've 
got  an  appetite  for  the  cursed  stuff  and  I  can't 
always  govern  it.  But  I  can  get  along  for  a 
while,  so  you  wont  have  any  reason  to  complain 
of  me.  I'm  hard  up,  and  I  want  to  earn  some 
thing  for  my  wife  and  little  girl.  I  can't  do 
without  my  priming,  but  I'll  do  my  best  to  stick 
to  that.  Shall  I  go  below  and  see  what's  wanted  ? 
Old  Landers' best  man  died  near  the  time  he  did, 
and  both  died  pretty  much  the  same  way,  though 
one  was  rich  and  the  other  poor.  Hellish  busi 
ness,  the  best  you  can  make  of  it.  But  there's 


$6  All  for  Money. 

money  in  it.  Excuse  me,  sir,  I'm  a  little  shaky, 
or  I  shouldn't  talk  so  much." 

How  pitiful  was  all  this  !  The  confession  of 
weakness  ;  the  denunciation  of  the  drink  his 
appetite  craved,  and  for  which  he  was  bartering 
soul  and  body.  Abject  wretch,  and  yet  strug 
gling  to  retain  the  semblance  of  decency. 
"  Hellish  business,"  indeed  !  Who  dares  to  call 
it  otherwise  gives  his  testimony  to  a  lie. 

But  there  is  money  in  it.  Monej'  to  be  made 
by  dealing  out  death  and  destruction  to  the 
dwellers  on  this  fair  earth  !  Money  to  be  made 
by  degrading  the  intellects  and  hardening  the 
hearts  of  such  'as  God  has  made  in  his  own 
image  !  Money  to  be  made  by  quenching  the 
light  of  love  in  happy  homes,  beggaring  innocent 
children,  and  dooming  to  slow,  lingering  torture 
wives  who  should  be  tenderly  cherished ! 
Money  to  be  made  by  maddening  the  brain  and 
nerving  the  arm  of  the  assassin !  Money  to  be 
made  by  fostering  crime  and  enormity  of  every 
kind  the  mind  of  man  can  conceive  or  the  de 
pravity  of  a  demon  execute  ! 

Hermon  Wyatt  was  alone  in  his  counting-room 


The  Corner  Store.  gj 

with  the  door  fast  closed.  He  was  alone,  lean 
ing  his  head  upon  his  hand,  the  veriest  coward 
that  ever  turned  his  back  upon  duty  and  honest 
labor.  But  the  die  was  cast.  With  a  resolute 
will  worthy  of  a  better  cause,  he  decided  to  put 
aside  all  scruples  and  give  his  entire  energies  to 
the  work  before  him. 

I  need  not  write  of  his  continued  struggles 
with  conscience  and  his  loathing  of  the  influences 
which  surrounded  him.  He  was  not  likely  to 
yield  to  the  temptations  he  prepared  for  others. 
Come  what  might  to  him,  he  would  never  taste 
intoxicating  liquor.  He  raised  his  head  and 
brought  his  hand  down  heavily  upon  the  desk  as 
he  mentally  registered  this  vow. 

With  the  exception  of  Dummer,  the  forlorn 
creature  just  introduced  to  my  readers,  every 
man*  in  the  establishment  had  been  employed  by 
the  late  proprietor  and  understood  what  was  ex 
pected  of  him.  Chief  among  these  was  the  con 
fidential  clerk,  who  knew  the  whole  routine  of 
the  business  and  was  competent  to  give  all  de 
sired  information. 

Mr.  Landers  had  trusted  him,  as  also  had  the 


PC?  All  for  Money. 

customers.  Now,  gentlemen  coming  to  make 
their  purchases  were  introduced  to  the  new  pro 
prietor,  who  met  them  cordially  and  then  referred 
them  to  Mr.  Crown  as  authority  in  matters  of 
trade. 

A  variety  of  customers  visited  this  store,  which 
was  likely  to  lose  none  of  its  former  prestige. 
Here  came  men  with  clear  cut  intellectual  faces, 
broad,  high  foreheads,  and  finely  strung  nerves,  to 
whom  stimulants  are  a  threefold  curse.  There 
were  young  men  with  vigorous  minds  and  fine 
physiques,  paying  a  price  for  what  would  rob  them 
of  both  strength  and  grace.  Old  men,  too,  there 
were,  stamped  with  the  seal  of  their  habits,  and 
ordering  large  supplies  of  liquors  as  freely  as  they 
would  have  ordered  necessary  food  for  their 
families.  Not  drunkards  and  vagabonds  ;  but 
men  whose  names  represented  millions  of  prop 
erty,  and  whose  homes  were  decorated  with  the 
most  elaborate  appointments  of  wealth. 

Aside  from  all  these  was  a  coarser  grade  ol 
customers  ;  business  men  in  middle  life,  who 
complained  of  hard  times  ;  having  nothing  to 
bestow  upon  their  poorer  neighbors,  and  yet 


The   Corner  Store. 


99 


squandering  for  intoxicating  drinks  what  would 
suffice  for  the  support  of  many  a  suffering  fam- 
ily. 

"  There's  no  falling  off  in  our  trade,"  remarked 
Mr.  Crown,  a  few  weeks  after  the  establishment 
had  changed  owners.  "  Every  other  trade  suffers, 
but  good  liquor  is  always  good  property.  Men 
will  have  that,  any  way.  We've  lost  a  few  cus 
tomers  that  have  failed.  They've  gone  to  cheap 
er  places  for  their  drinks,  but  that's  more  than 
made  up  by  the  retailers.  They  buy  more  than 
usual." 

"  How  do  you  account  for  that  ?" 

"  Well,  there  are  a  good  many  men  idle. 
They  can't  get  work  to  do  at  much  of  any 
price,  and  they  must  do  something.  They'll  get 
together  somewhere  ;  so  they  go  to  the  saloons 
where  they're  sure  to  find  good  company  and 
cheerful  rooms.  Of  course,  when  they  get  there 
they  want  something  to  drink.  One  treats,  and 
then  another,  till  there's  a  good  deal  of  liquor  dis 
posed  of." 

l<  Such  men  had  better  spend  their  money  for 
something  else." 


ioo  All  for  Money. 

"  I  know  that  as  well  as  you  do,  but  a  man 
that's  used  to  liquor  don't  give  it  up  so  easily." 

"I've  heard  of  men  reforming." 

"  Yes,  but  fortunately  for  your  business  there 
are  not  many  such.  There's  Dummer  now,  the 
best  man  for  his  place  I  ever  saw.  He's  making 
money  for  you  faster  than  Sharp  ever  made  it  for 
Landers; turning  out  better  liquors  at  a  cheaper 
rate.  Killing  himself,  too,  while  he  does  it,  if  I 
can  judge  from  appearances.  It's  a  shame  for  a 
man  to  drink  so  that  has  such  a  daughter  as  he 
has.  She's  a  beauty.  Comes  with  him  every 
morning,  and  then  comes  after  him  every  night. 
I've  only  seen  her  once,  but  the  men  say  she 
comes  every  day." 

"  How  old  is  she  ?" 

"  I  should  think  she  might  be  fourteen  or 
fifteen." 

"  I  didn't  know  he  had  a  family,"  said  Mr. 
Wyatt. 

"  It's  a  pity  he  has.  I  don't  call  myself  weak- 
headed,  but  I  can't  get  over  thinking  about  that 
girl.  I  was  near  enough  to  hear  what  she  said 
to  him  when  she  left  him." 


The   Corner  Store.  101 

"  What  was  it  ?" 

"  '  Do  be  careful,  father.  We  shall  love  you 
all  day.'" 

"  They  are  poor,  aren't  they  ?" 

"  Men  always  are  when  they  get  where 
Dummer  is.  I  should  know  it,  too,  by  the  way 
the  girl  was  dressed." 

"  Where  do  they  live  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,  but  I  can  find  out." 

"  Don't  take  the  trouble.  I  will  ask  him  my 
self.  I  don't  want  to  feel  that  any  man  who 
works  for  me  has  a  suffering  family.  Perhaps  I 
ought  to  pay  him  higher  wages." 

"  He  is  glad  enough  to  get  what  he  does. 
You  said  Reeves  turned  him  off,  and  you  are 
running  a  risk  to  employ  him." 

"  But  you  say  he  is  doing  well." 

"So  he  is.  I  don't  know  of  anybody  who 
could  fill  his  place." 

Later  in  the  day  Dummer  looked  up  from 
his  work  to  meet  the  eye  of  his  employer. 
He  was  "primed,"  and  therefore  sure  of  him 
self. 

"Any  orders  ?"  he  asked. 


IO2  All  for  Money. 

"  None  from  me.  You  fill  orders  before  they 
are  made." 

"Yes,  sir.     I  know  what  to  expect." 

"  Are  you  satisfied  with  your  place  ?" 

"  It's  all  I'm  fit  for,  and  I  must  do  some 
thing." 

"  You  have  a  family." 

A.  look  of  defiance  passed  over  the  man's  face, 
but  after  a  moment's  hesitation,  he  replied  : 

"  I  have  a  wife  and  daughter  good  enough  for 
the  best  man  in  the  country." 

"  Excuse  me,  Dummer,  but  where  do  you 
live  ?" 

There  was  a  still  longer  delay  before  an  an 
swer  was  given,  but  at  length  he  named  the 
street  and  number  where  his  family  could  be 
found. 

A  poor  tenement  it  was.  Only  three  rooms, 
scantily  furnished,  and  attractive  for  no  other 
reason  than  its  cleanliness. 

Hermon  Wyatt  was  not  accustomed  to  visit 
such  localities  ;  yet  in  this  instance  he  departed 
from  his  usual  custom.  He,  too,  had  seen  the 
young  girl  who  waited  for  her  father  ;  seen  her 


The   Corner  Store. 


spring  to  his  side  and  cling  to  him  as  though  she 
would  save  him  from  himself. 

The  next  day,  when  he  went  to  look  for  her 
home,  he  saw  her  entering  a  door  over  which 
was  a  modest  sign,  informing  the  passers  by  that 
milk,  yeast,  eggs  and  groceries  could  be  found 
within.  Some  fine  apples  displayed  in  the  win 
dow  gave  him  a  pretext  for  following  the  young 
girl  and  learning  her  errand. 

"  Well,  dear,  what  can  I  do  for  you  to-day  ?" 
a  motherly-looking  English  woman  was  saying. 
"  I've  got  grand  things  for  little  money.  Coffee 
that's  worth  more  than  it'll  bring  me,  and  sugar 
cheaper  than  ever." 

Before  answer  could  be  made  she  turned  to 
the  gentleman  ;  when  he  remarked  :  "  I'm  in  no 
hurry.  I  came  in  for  some  apples,  but  I'm  wait 
ing  about  for  a  short  time,  and  shall  be  obliged  if 
you  will  allow  me  to  stop  here." 

"  Sure,  sir,  you're  welcome.  I'd  offer  you  a 
chair,  but  the  room  is  that  narrow,  sir." 

"I  prefer  standing.;"  and  directly  he  seemed 
engrossed  by  what  he  saw  through  the  glass 
door,  while  in  reality  he  was  listening  to  the 


104  All  for  Money. 

half-whispered  conversation  of  the  shopkeeper 
and  her  customer. 

He  knew  that  both  were  calculating  carefully 
how  the  contents  of  an  old  pocket-book  could 
be  expended  to  the  best  advantage.  Coffee, 
sugar,  milk,  and  a  half  dozen  of  eggs  were 
bought.  Then,  last,  a  tumbler  of  jelly,  which 
extravagance  was  finally  ordered  only  after  long 
deliberation. 

"  It  will  be  so  nice  for  father  with  his  toast, 
and  I  earned  almost  the  price  of  it  yesterday," 
said  the  daughter,  by  way  of  apology.  "  Poor 
father  !" 

"  Yes,  dear,  but  he's  rich  in  having  you.  I 
hope  your  mother's  comfortable." 

"  She's  anxious.  If  it  wasn't  for  that  she'd  be 
comfortable.  We've  enough  of  everything." 

"  Then  be  thankful  for  that,  dear.  There's 
always  a  worry  for  them  that's  not  alone,  and 
the  lone  ones  pine  for  somebody.  I  mind  me 
many  such  both  ways,  and  there'll  always  be  the 
same.  If  you  need  a  friend  I'll  do  you  a  turn  as 
far  as  I'm  able." 

The  young  girl  passed  out  hastily,  brushing  a 


The  Corner  Store.  705 

tear  from  her  eye,  and  another  entered.  Mrs. 
Ilsley  glanced  at  the  gentleman  ;  but  as  he  had 
resumed  his  former  position  she  did  not  speak  to 
him. 

This  customer  was  quickly  served,  and  as  the 
door  closed  behind  her,  Mr.  Wyatt  said  :  "  I  will 
pay  you  for  a  dozen  apples."  She  named  the 
price,  which  he  placed  in  her  hand,  adding:  "I 
don't  wish  to  take  them.  Please  give  them  to 
the  young  lady  who  came  in  just  before  me." 

"  Lizzie  Dummer,  sir  ?" 

"  I  think  that  is  her  name.  Can  you  tell  me 
anything  of  her  family  ?" 

Mrs.  Ilsley  looked  sharply  at  the  man,  and 
then,  as  if  satisfied  with  her  scrutiny,  answered  : 

"  Well,  sir,  I'm  thinking  I  can,  as  much  as  any 
body  about  here.  They're  not  long  in  the  city, 
and  they  keep  close.  But  you  see  they  must  buy 
somewhere  ;  and  I  keep  a  decent  place.  I  only 
charges  fair  profits,  and  the  neighbors  mostly 
come  to  me.  Lizzie  comes  every  day,  poor  thing, 
but  it's  not  often  she  buys  much." 

"  She  has  a  father  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,     But  I'm  thinking  she'll  not  have 


io6  All  for  Money. 

him  long.  He's  nigh  dead  with  drink,  and  just 
giving  his  last  bit  of  strength  to  earn  for  his 
family.  I'm  thinking  there's  somebody  got  to 

• 

answer  for  what  I  wouldn't  in  the  great  day. 
Lizzie  wouldn't  say  a  word  against  her  father, 
but  he's  working  in  the  big  liquor  store  that  used 
to  be  Landers'.  I'm  not  given  to  cursing,  sir,  but 
if  I  was  I'd  curse  the  man  that  sells  liquor." 

The  speaker  was  too  much  absorbed  in  what 
she  was  saying  to  observe  her  companion  closely, 
and  his  next  question  turned  her  thoughts  in  a 
new  channel. 

"  Is  Mr.  Dummer  very  poor  ?" 

"  It  must  be  he  is,  sir.  Sure,  sir,  might  I  be  so 
bold  as  to  ask  if  you  know  him  ?" 

"  I  have  seen  him,  and  I  wish  to  help  his  family 
without  having  them  know  who  does  it.  Can 
you  tell  me  how  this  can  be  done  ?" 

"  Well,  sir,  I  don't  know.  They're  that  inde 
pendent  ;  and  his  wife,  dear  woman,  is  saving  his 
earnings  against  the  time  he  can't  work.  If 
you've  a  mind  to  help  them  I'll  do  my  best  for 
anything  you'll  leave  with  me.  You  can  ask  the 
neighbors  if  I'm  an  honest  woman." 


The  Corner  Store.  107 

"  I'm  willing  to  trust  you  without  asking 
questions  ; "  and  he  laid  five  dollars  on  the 
counter  ;  the  largest  sum  he  had  ever  bestowed 
in  charity  of  his  own  free  accord. 

Was  this  an  actual  gift,  or  was  it  but  a  small 
instalment  of  his  indebtedness  to  one  who  was 
coining  his  fortune  by  imperilling  the  lives  of 
others  ? 


CHAPTER   VI. 

THE    FAIRY    PRINCE. 

ILLY  LEGREW  had  been  at  her  uncle's 
three  months,  when  the  gentleman  gave 
her  a  letter,  remarking  :  "  Your  mother 
has  written  at  last." 

"  Oh  !  I'm  so  glad,"  she  exclaimed.  "  It  has 
been  so  long  to  wait,  and  I  really  love  my 
mother." 

"  Mother  has  lost  a  great  deal  of  money,"  she 
said,  soon  after,  coming  back  to  the  room  from 
which  she  had  carried  her  precious  letter  that  she 
might  read  it  alone.  "  She  seems  almost  dis 
tracted,  and  don't  know  what  to  do." 

"  She  has  something  left,  Milly.  It  can't  be 
that  she  has  lost  everything.  She  has  her  house, 
at  least." 

4<  I  don't  know.     She  don't  say  anything  about 


The  Fairy  Prince.  iog 

that.  Dear  me  !  What  will  she  do  ?  Now  she 
will  blame  me  more  than  ever.  She  wants  you 
to  go  and  see  her,  Uncle  Harvey.  Cousin  Na 
omi  has  added  a  half  sheet  to  mother's  letter." 

"  What  does  she  say  ?" 

"  She  is  entirely  out  of  patience  with  every 
body  and  wants  me  to  go  home  the  next  train. 
She  says  old  Moneybags  is  at  the  bottom  of  this. 
He  managed  to  get  a  run  on  the  bank  where 
mother's  money  was  invested,  and  it  failed. 
That's  Cousin  Naomi's  version  of  the  affair,  She 
hates  Mr.  Esterbrook." 

"  As  every  good  woman  has  reason  to  do. 
You  and  I  had  better  go  down.  We  shall  be  just 
in  season  to  hear  of  the  wedding  festivities.  You 
are  quite  sure  you'll  not  envy  the  bride  ?" 

"  Envy  her  !  I'd  live  in  a  garret  with  my 
mother  sooner  than  be  in  her  place,  and  such  liv 
ing  would  be  dreadful.  This  decides  me  about 
giving  music  lessons.  I  must  do  something. 
Cousin  Naomi  thinks  I  may  come  out  a  tolerably 
sensible  woman,  and  I  ought  not  to  disappoint 
her." 

"  Cousin  Naomi  is  a  sensible  woman  herself. 


no  All  for  Money. 

We  can  depend  upon  her.  I  hope  she  will  save 
what  property  she  has." 

"  I  hope  so.  She  has  always  doubted  city  se 
curities.'" 

"  I  have  heard  her  say  that,  although  she  made 
an  exception  in  favor  of  real  estate.  There  is 
some  likely  to  come  into  her  hands  not  a  hundred 
miles  from  here.  It  would  long  ago  if  she  hadn't 
such  a  soft  heart  where  others  are  concerned." 

"  I  know  she  has.  She  is  something  like  a 
shag-bark  walnut.  That  is  hard-shelled,  but 
when  you  get  at  the  meat  it  is  delicious.  I  have 
a  weakness  for  walnuts.  Dear,  good  soul  !  I 
should  be  very  glad  to  see  Cousin  Naomi.  But 
after  all,  uncle,  it  will  be  hard  to  go  home  and 
have  people  cut  me  because  I  am  poor.  Not 
many  knew  about  my  loss  when  I  came  away, 
and  then  mother  let  our  set  believe  that  I  was 
engaged  to  Mr.  Esterbrook.  Of  course  I 
shouldn't  be  slighted.  Oh,  dear  !  It  don't  seem 
as  though  it  could  be  so.  It's  such  a  little  while 
since  we  were  living  along  from  one  day  to  an 
other,  doing  nothing  more  than  calling,  shopping, 
receiving  calls  and  attending  parties.  I'm  begin- 


The  Fairy  Prince.  in 

ning  to  feel  that  it's  a  dreadful  thing  to  be  poor ;" 
and  she  burst  into  tears,  sobbing  bitterly.  "  1 
don't  think  I  realized  what  it  is  till  now,"  she 
added,  before  her  uncle  had  decided  what  to 
reply. 

Then  he  hastened  to  comfort  her  ;  telling  her 
that  matters  might  not  be  so  bad  as  had  been 
represented,  and  even  if  they  were  there  would 
be  some  way  out  of  the  difficulty.  "  We  can 
trust  Cousin  Naomi's  judgment,  and  she  thinks 
you  should  go  home  directly,"  he  said. 

"  But  I  presume  mamma  won't  care  to  see  me, 
and  I  don't  feel  as  though  I  could  bear  being 
scolded.  I  know  how  she  feels  towards  me.  She 
will  blame  me  for  all  the  trouble.  I  wish  people 
could  live  without  money.  Just  think,  uncle,  I 
havn't  had  anything  new  since  I  came  here.  To 
be  sure,  I  don't  know  as  I've  needed  anything, 
but  then  I  might.  I  havn't  even  had  a  pair  of 
new  gloves." 

"  You  shall  have  dozens  if  you  want  them  ;  so 
don't  worry  about  that,"  responded  the  gentle 
man  smiling.  "  So  dry  your  eyes  and  look  on 
the  bright  side." 


112  All  for  Money. 

"  Oh,  I'm  not  crying  for  gloves.  I  bought  a 
dozen  pair  of  the  best  the  week  before  I  came 
here.  But  it  all  seems  so  dreadful,  and  mother 
cares  a  great  deal  more  for  money  than  I  do/' 

Affairs  were  looking  serious.  Mr.  Harvey  ac 
knowledged  this  to  his  wife  while  making  hurried 
preparations  for  visiting  his  sister-in-law.  Milly 
added  much  to  the  attraction  of  their  home  ;  but 
Milly's  mother  was  far  too  capricious  and  exacting 
to  make  her  long  a  welcome  guest. 

No  miser  craved  money  more  than  did  she. 
Not  that  she  might  hoard  it  in  glittering  coins, 
but  that  she  might  surround  herself  with  luxury 
and  challenge  the  admiration  of  those  with  whom 
she  associated.  She  had  drawn  more  heavily 
upon  her  personal  property  than  her  daughter 
supposed,  so  that  the  loss  she  now  suffered  was 
in  reality  greater  than  it  seemed.  Shutting 
herself  into  her  room,  she  refused  to  be  seen  by 
any  one  except  Cousin  Naomi,  who  was  too  much 
accustomed  to  her  demonstrations  to  treat  them 
with  much  respect. 

"  It  ain't  the  worst  thing  that  could  happen," 
remarked  this  comforter,  after  an  outburst  of 


The  Fairy  Prince. 


grief,  in  which  the  unhappy  woman  bewailed  her 
misfortune.  "  You  might  lose  your  daughter,  as 
Stella  Bond's  mother  has  lost  her." 

"  Naomi  Dodge,  don't  speak  to  me  of  that 
again.  Mrs.  Esterbrook's  mother  has  reason  to 
congratulate  herself." 

"  Millicent  Legrew,  stop  and  thank  the  Lord 
that  your  plans  were  upset.  Have  you  forgotten 
what  Leander  Harvey  wrote  to  you  ?  The  mon 
ey  he  would  condemn  as  ill-gotten  must  bring  a 
curse  with  it.  You  may  be  sure  of  that.  Old 
Moneybags  owns  some  of  the  worst  houses  in  the 
city.  There  are  more  than  forty  liquor  saloons 
paying  rent  to  him  ;  low,  miserable  groggeries, 
some  of  them." 

"  What  difference  does  that  make  to  him  ?  He 
gets  good  rents  for  them." 

"  Yes,  better  than  if  they  were  used  for  respec 
table  purposes,  and  if  he  only  gets  the  money, 
that  is  all  he  cares." 

"  Well,  money  is  everything.  It  will  bu> 
everything  and  pay  for  everything  that  is  worth 
having." 

"  Will  it  ?     Will  it  buy  health  ?     Will  it  buy 


ii4  All  for  Money. 

happiness  ?"  asked  Naomi  Dodge  sharply.  "  No 
use  talking  to  that  woman,"  she  soliloquized  as 
she  crossed  the  hall. 

It  was  a  wonder  to  all  her  friends  that  this 
cousin  should  remain  with  Mrs.  Legrew.  The 
two  had  few  sympathies  or  interests  in  common. 
Cousin  Naomi  was  not  obliged  to  accept  her  po 
sition  as  a  means  of  support,  although  she  was 
paid  a  stipulated  sum  quarterly,  and  would  by 
no  means  have  waived  her  claim  to  this.  Her 
home  had  been  here  for  twenty  years,  and  during 
that  time  she  had  made  herself  indispensable  to 
the  family.  Now  she  was  the  only  one  who 
could  think  calmly. 

Mr.  Harvey  and  Milly  arrived,  as  was  ex 
pected  ;  the  latter  going  directly  to  her  mother 
and  offering  such  comfort  as  she  could.  All  her 
efforts,  however,  availed  nothing.  Mrs.  Legrew 
protested  again  and  again  that  she  would  rather 
die  than  change  her  style  of  living  and  be 
slighted  by  people  who  had  been  proud  of  her 
notice. 

Her  daughter  listened  in  silence  while  she 
portrayed  the  disgrace  and  humiliation  which 


The  Fairy  Prince.  115 

awaited  them,  unless  some  relief  could  be 
found. 

"  I  cannot  survive  it  !"  she  exclaimed  ;  and 
then  followed  reproaches,  such  as  no  true- 
hearted  woman  would  ever  utter. 

"  But  mamma,  auntie  says  you  didn't  have  very 
much  money  at  home,"  said  the  young  girl,  at 
last,  when  she  felt  constrained  to  speak  in  self- 
justification. 

"  We  didn't,  and  that  is  why  I  know  so  well 
the  misery  of  trying  to  live  without  it.  1 
shouldn't  have  married  your  father  if  any  richer 
man  had  offered  himself  to  me.  When  I  was  of 
your  age  I  had  too  much  sense  to  refuse  Mr. 
Esterbrook.  I  suppose  you  think  it  is  dreadful 
for  me  to  say  that  about  your  father,  but  when 
you  have  learned  by  experience  what  it  is  to  be 
poor,  you  will  talk  very  differently  from  what 
you  do  now.  Mrs.  Esterbrook  can  dress  like  a 
princess  ;  and  a  woman  who  has  money  enough 
at  her  command  can  be  happy  under  almost  any 
circumstances." 

Milly  knew  this  was  not  true  ;  but  it  would  be 
strange  if  she  had  not  gone  out  from  that  inter- 


n6  All  for  Money. 

view  with  an  intense  longing  for  what  seemed  to 
her  mother  the  dearest  boon  of  earth.  Well  for 
her  that  at  that  moment  she  met  no  temptation 
to  sacrifice  herself  upon  the  altar  of  mammon. 

"  Well,"  said  her  uncle,  when  she  returned 
to  him. 

"  It  is  anything  but  well,"  she  replied.  "  Mother 
is  in  despair." 

"  Not  so  bad  as  that,  I  hope." 

"  Yes,  just  as  bad.  And  why  shouldn't  she  be 
in  despair  ?  How  would  you  feel  if  you  had  lost 
nearly  all  your  property  and  could  never  accu 
mulate  any  more  ?  Don't  you  consider  money 
the  one  thing  needful  in  this  world  ?  Isn't  it 
what  men  work  for,  and  what  they  sell  their 
souls  for  sometimes  ?" 

"  Why,  Milly,  child,  you  are  really  getting 
logical.  Don't  trouble  your  head  about  such 
things.  Let  men  work,  if  they  will.  They  were 
made  to  work." 

"  But  they  don't  work  any  more  than  a  great 
many  women.  I've  seen  women  looking  so  poor 
and  wretched.  O  dear  !  How  could  I  live  as 
they  do  ?" 


The  Fairy  Prince. 


"You  couldn't,  child.  There'll  never  be  any 
occasion  for  your  living  wretchedly.  You  will 
live  happily.  If  you  can't  wear  diamonds  like 
Dan  Esterbrook's  wife,  you  can  wear  silks  and 
satins.  Come,  Milly,  I  can't  have  you  spoil  your 
eyes.  Trust  me  to  take  care  of  you  until  some 
one  has  made  a  fortune  for  you." 

Naomi  Dodge,  who  had  been  out  to  attend  to 
some  business,  now  came  in  with  characteristic 
greetings  for  the  man  of  the  world,  and  the  girl 
to  whom,  as  yet,  the  real  world  was  all  unknown. 

"  You've  come  none  too  soon,"  she  said  to  Mr. 
Harvey,  when  they  were  alone. 

"What  can  I  do,  now  I  am  here?"  was  his 
response. 

"  I  don't  know  ;  but  something  must  be  done 
by  somebody.  If  I  hadn't  promised  Robert 
LegrewI'd  stay  with  his  wife  and  child  as  long  as 
they  needed  me,  you  wouldn't  find  me  here.  But 
I  promised,  and  I'm  not  in  the  habit  of  breaking 
my  promises.  Milly  might  be  a  sensible  woman 
if  she  could  be  taken  away  from  her  mother. 
There's  a  good  deal  about  her  like  her  father, 
and  he  knew  there  was  something  worth  living 


ii 8  AIL  for  Money. 

for  besides  making  money ;  though  Millicent 
tried  her  best  to  make  him  think  as  she  did 
about  it.  Things  ain't  so  bad  here  as  she  pre 
tends.  She's  got  enough  to  live  on  comfortably, 
if  she  only  thought  so.  You  aren't  the  right  one 
to  say  much  to  her  about  that,  Leander  Har 
vey.  You  are  all  bound  up  in  getting  rich,  but 
you  have  some  common  sense." 

"  Thank  you  for  saying  that.  Cousin  Naomi." 

"  You  needn't  thank  me.  I'm  not  used  to  pay 
ing  compliments,  but  I  hope  I'm  willing  to  give 
everybody  their  due.  I  know  you  do  things  for 
money  that  no  true  Christian  would  do.  I  don't 
mean  anything  in  particular,  Cousin  Harvey. 
I've  never  heard  of  your  taking  a  widow's  last 
cent,  or  turning  a  poor  girl  into  the  street  be 
cause  she  couldn't  pay  her  rent  ;  but  there  are 
other  things  the  Lord  looks  upon  with  displeas 
ure.  It's  as  true  now  as  when  it  was  written, 
that  '  The  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all 
evil.' " 

"  Then  you  don't  believe  in  money,  do  you, 
Cousin  Naomi  ?" 

"  I  believe  in  it  if  it  comes  honestly.     I  always 


The  Fairy  Prince. 


did,  but  I  can  get  along  with  a  little   and  not 
fret  myself  to  death  either." 

"That  is  more  than  most  women  can  do." 

"  You're  mistaken  in  that.  Most  women  aren' 
brought  up  as  your  wife  and  Millicent  were. 
They  were  poor  enough  at  home,  just  because 
they  tried  to  make  more  show  than  they  could 
without  pinching  themselves  out  of  some  com 
fort.  That  was  the  trouble.  I  know  all  about 
it.  I  know,  too,  that  a  good  many  girls  are 
brought  up  to  think  any  man  will  do  for  a  hus 
band  if  he  only  has  money  enough  ;  and  that's 
what  makes  some  men  determined  to  have  money 
at  any  cost.  The  fault  isn't  all  with  the  women, 
though.  You  and  I  know  better  than  that. 
Rich  men  want  rich  sons-in-law.  Old  Moneybags 
made  a  mistake  once  in  calculating  on  a  girl's 
heart,  but  Mr.  Baldwin  thought  his  step-daugh 
ter  very  fortunate," 

"  Money  gives  a  person  power.  Neither  you 
nor  I  can  deny  that.  But  as  far  as  Dan  Ester- 
brook  is  concerned,  I  think  worse  of  him  than 
you  can.  That  is  done  with  now." 

"  He  is  never  done  with  a  person  who  deceives 


I2O  All  for  Money. 

or  opposes  him.  If  he  isn't  at  the  bottom  of 
Millicent's  loss,  I'm  mistaken." 

"  Tell  me  about  it." 

All  was  told  which  the  woman  could  substan 
tiate  as  facts,  while  Leander  Harvey  knit  his 
brows  as  he  listened. 

"I  wouldn't  advise  you  to  say  much  about  this," 
added  his  companion.  "  This  is  a  bad  time  to 
make  an  enemy  of  such  a  man." 

"  I  have  no  fears  of  him,"  was  the  quick  reply. 
"  I  know  how  to  bring  him  to  terms.  I  know 
more  of  Dan  Esterbrook's  past  life  than  he  will 
be  willing  to  have  told,  and  he  knows  that  I 
know  it.  I  shall  see  him,  and  perhaps  it  will  be 
better  for  me  to  call  on  him  before  I  see  Millicent. 
I  shall  have  time  for  that  before  dinner." 

"  Yes,  plenty  of  time.  But  you  must  have 
luncheon  first.  You  know  your  own  business, 
but  you  must  allow  me  to  caution  you  against 
making  an  enemy  of  such  a  man.  There  is  no 
use  in  running  risks  when  nothing  is  to  be 
gained." 

"  That  is  true.  I  allow  you  to  say  what  you 
please  to  me,  Cousin  Naomi.  I  shall  consult  one 


The  Fairy  Prince.  121 

or  two  parties,  and  then  run  no  risk  at  all.  Do 
comfort  Milly,  if  you  can.  She  has  great  confi 
dence  in  you." 

"  I'll  look  after  her.  She  needs  a  friend,  if  any 
body  does,  and  it's  sorry  comfort  she'll  get  from 
her  mother." 

An  active  business  man,  an  acquaintance  of 
Mr.  Harvey,  who  observed  closely  the  progress 
of  events,  corroborated  all  which  had  been  al 
ready  told  him  in  regard  to  the  bank  in  which 
Mrs.  Legrew's  funds  were  invested.  Considering 
this  the  most  secure  of  her  investments,  she  had 
allowed  it  to  remain,  without  withdrawing  any 
part  of  the  original  amount,  so  that  she  was 
wholly  unprepared  for  its  loss. 

"  Between  you  and  me,  Esterbrook  is  capable 
of  any  meanness,  and  I  have  heard  that  he  had 
a  purpose  to  serve  in  what  he  has  done,"  said  the 
acquaintance.  "  Any  way,  it  is  better  to  lose 
money  than  happiness.  If  Stella  Bond  was  my 
daughter,  I  should  rather  see  her  in  her  coffin 
than  in  her  husband's  home.  There  is  no  account 
ing  for  tastes,  however,  and  she  may  be  satisfied 
with  her  life.  She  has  the  most  magnificent 


122  All  for  Money. 

diamonds.  Her  chains  are  of  solid  gold,  and 
crusted  with  pearls  ;  but  they  are  chains,  for  all 
that.  I  know  she  must  hate  her  old  ogre  of  a 
husband,  and  woe  be  to  her  when  she  betrays 
her  hatred." 

Mr.  Harvey  did  not  trust  himself  to  reply,  lest 
he  might  say  more  than  seemed  to  him  wise  ; 
but  went  at  once  to  call  upon  the  man  whom  so 
many  feared,  and  so  few  trusted.  Despite  the 
servant's  assurance  that  his  master  saw  no  one 
without  first  signifying  his  willingness  to  do  so, 
this  visitor  waited  for  permission  to  enter  from 
neither  master  nor  servant.  Bidding  the  former 
lead  the  way,  he  confronted  Daniel  Esterbrook 
in  a  magnificently  furnished  room. 

"  It  may  be  that  you  have  forgotten  me,"  he 
said  coldly. 

A  supercilious  smile  rendered  the  wizened  face 
still  more  repulsive,  as  with  a  trembling  hand  he 
adjusted  his  glasses,  and  surveyed  the  intruder. 

"  You  are  a  stranger  to  me,"  was  his  response. 

"  You  are  mistaken  in  that.  It  is  more  than 
twenty  years  since  I  have  spoken  to  you,  but  I 
think  you  remember  the  night  the  old  warehouse 


The  Fairy  Prince.  123 

was  burned.  A  frightful  accident  occurred  there, 
and  I  am  certain  you  have  not  forgotten  that." 

"  Leander  Harvey  !" 

"  The  very  same.  Perhaps  you  remember  me 
now." 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  do.  Be  seated,  and  tell  me  how 
I  can  serve  you.  Is — is — is  your  friend  living  ?" 

"Jack  Hanson  is  living.  You  gave  him  an 
ugly  blow  and  it  crippled  him  for  life,  but  his 
wife  and  children  make  up  for  all  he  lacks." 

"  I — I  hope  he  don't  bear  me  any  malice." 

"  I  can't  answer  for  that,  only  a  man  wouldn't 
be  likely  to  love  another  who  attempted  to  kill 
him.  Murder  has  a  bad  sound.  But  Jack  agreed 
to  your  terms,  and  he's  not  one  to  go  back  on  a 
bargain  of  any  kind.  You  got  a  heavy  insurance 
on  that  warehouse.  No  more  than  it  was  worth, 
though,  if  all  it  contained  was  valued.  You  made 
a  pile  of  money,  then,  Dan  Esterbrook,  and  rid 
yourself  of  a  woman  who  was  getting  trouble 
some.  It  was  done  in  a  quiet  way,  too,  and  with  no 
proof  that  would  be  allowed  in  a  court  of  justice. 
How  about  your  last  operation,  having  regard  to 
Mrs.  Legrew  ?  She  is  my  sister-in-law,  and  her 


All  for  Money. 


daughter  is  my  niece.  Perhaps  you  didn't  know 
that." 

The  miserable  man  looked  at  his  accuser  as  if 
deprecating  further  reminder  of  his  guilt  ;  making 
an  effort  to  say  something  in  self-defence,  yet 
able  only  to  articulate  a  single  letter  :  I  —  I  —  . 
The  small,  pinched  features  expressed  such  agony 
as  was  pitiful  to  see.  At  length  Mr.  Esterbrook 
stammered  out  :  "  I've  no  wish  to  injure  Mrs. 
Legrewor  her  daughter." 

"  Then  why  did  you  ?  It  was  poor  revenge 
because  a  young  girl  refused  to  give  herself  to 
such  an  old  debauchee  as  you  are.  I  would  have 
prevented  the  match  if  I  had  snatched  her  from 
you  at  the  altar.  It  is  enough  for  men  to  sell 
themselves  for  money.  You  have  sold  yourself 
—  what  little  there  was  of  you,  for  money  ;  and 
by  this  time  you  know  whether  it  was  a  profitable 
transaction.  You  are  a  rich  man,  Dan  Ester- 
brook  ;  so  rich,  that  you  can't  help  adding  to 
your  riches  every  day,  but  I  don't  envy  you.  No, 
I  don't." 

Up  to  this  time  Mr.  Harvey  had  been  standing. 
Now  he  seated  himself  and  looked  around  upon 


The  Fairy  Prince.  125 

the  display  of  wealth  which  met  his  gaze.  He 
had  never  dreamed  of  attaining  to  such  magni 
ficence  ;  and  yet,  as  he  said,  he  did  not  envy  its 
possessor. 

"You  had  an  object  in  coming  here,"  remarked 
his  host,  when  somewhat  recovered  from  the  shock 
of  an  unexpected  accusation. 

"  Certainly,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  should  not 
have  come  for  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you." 

"Tell  me  your  object."  The  speaker  was 
gaining  courage. 

A  few  words  sufficed  to  explain  what  my 
readers  have  been  told,  and  a  demand  was 
squarely  made  that  Mrs.  Legrew's  funds  should 
be  returned  to  her  in  such  a  way  that  the 
transaction  would  seem  to  be  only  a  matter  of 
business. 

"  It  shall  be  done  within  three  months,  or  I  will 
forfeit  double  the  amount,"  said  her  enemy. 

"  Give  me  a  writing  to  that  effect,"  was  re 
sponded,  and  this  he  did.  "  I  have  no  fears  that 
you  will  play  me  false,"  then  added  the  visitor. 

"If you  attempt  it  I  shall  know  how  to  meet 
you." 


126  All  for  Mousy. 

No  parting  salutations  were  exchanged  as  the 
unwelcome  guest  passed  into  the  hall,  where  a 
servant  was  waiting  who  bowed  him  obsequiously 
to  the  door. 

"Now  I  am  sure  of  my  man.  He  is  a  murderer 
as  well  as  an  incendiary.  It  will  be  for  his  inter 
est  to  keep  his  agreement  with  me,  and  Millicent 
will  be  saved  from  what  she  considers  poverty." 

Thus  soliloquized  Leander  Harvey  as  he  walked 
rapidly  through  the  thronged  streets,  while  it 
never  occurred  to  him  that  he  was  making  mer 
chandise  of  the  lives  and  happiness  of  others. 

Murder  and  arson  are  capital  crimes :  recog 
nized  as  such  by  the  laws  of  the  land.  Would 
they  be  less  criminal  if  they  were  sources  of  rev 
enue  to  the  government  ?  In  that  event  would 
the  gentleman  have  indorsed  them  as  honorable  ? 
He  had  effected  his  purpose,  and  with  Pharisaic 
pride  he  congratulated  himself  upon  his  superior 
ity  to  the  ciaven  wretch  he  had  just  left. 

Miss  Dodge  met  him  as  he  entered  the  house 
of  his  sister-in-law. 

"  You  were  right,"  he  said.  "  I  have  seen  Dan 
Esterbrook."  Soon  after,  when  opportunity 


The  Fairy  Prince.  127 

offered,   he   asked  :    "  Do   you  remember  Lydia 
Scott  ?" 

"  Very  well,"  was  the  reply. 

"  What  became  of  her  ?" 

"  I  never  knew.  I  have  wondered  a  great  deal 
about  her.  She  was  a  handsome  girl  and  a  good 
girl  too.  She  went  away  from  home  and  I  heard 
that  her  parents  lost  all  trace  of  her.  I  havn't 
heard  her  name  spoken  before  for  more  than 
twenty  years." 

"  Dan  Esterbrook  was  acquainted  with  her." 

"  Yes,  he  was,  and  I  always  had  my  suspicions 
that  he  knew  more  of  her  fate  than  any  one  else." 

"I  presume  your  suspicions  are  correct;  but 
unless  something  can  be  gained  it  is  of  no  use  to 
express  them." 

"  I  have  no  wish  to  do  so.  Money  covers  a 
multitude  of  sins,  but  ill-gotten  gains  bring  a 
curse  with  them.  We  all  need  to  remember 
that  ;  you  and  I  as  well  as  others.  I  wish  you 
didn't  care  so  much  for  money,  Cousin  Harvey. 
It  is  a  convenient  thing  to  have,  but  it  is  not 
worth  what  many  people  pay  for  it." 

Meanwhile,    Milly  Legrevv  was  examining  her 


128  All  for  Money. 

wardrobe  with  reference  to  future  needs  ;  smiling 
bitterly  as  she  recalled  the  occasions  when  various 
articles  of  dress  had  been  worn.  There  were 
shimmering  silks  and  softly-flowing  muslins  ; 
cashmeres  and  cambrics  ;  purchased  with  hardly 
a  thought  of  their  price,  and  thrown  aside  with 
no  concern  as  to  the  waste  involved.  She  ques 
tioned,  even  now,  if  the  time  would  come  when 
she  must  submit  to  petty  economies  and  narrow 
means. 

Her  mind  reverted  to  Hermon  Wyatt,  who  she 
knew  was  established  in  a  profitable  business,  and 
whom  she  had  found  so  delightful  a  companion. 
She  had  missed  him  far  more  than  she  had  sup 
posed  possible,  and  wished — for  maidens  will  in 
dulge  in  wishes — that  he  might  be  her  fairy 
prince. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PURE  LIQUORS. 

OOR  Dummer  !  He  failed  to  appear  in 
his  accustomed  place,  and  his  absence 
was  reported  with  this  comment : 
"  There  couldn't  be  a  worse  time  for  him  to  stay 
away.  There's  a  large  order  to  be  filled,  and  he's 
the  man  to  do  it.  He's  kept  sober  longer  than  I 
expected,  but  he  ought  to  have  held  out  a  while 
longer.  He's  most  used  up  any  way." 

"  Yes,  that  he  is,"  replied  his  employer.  "  I  am 
afraid  he  is  sick.  Let  me  see  the  order  that  is  to 
be  filled." 

He  took  it,  read  it  carefully,  then  turned  to  his 
private  desk,  taking  from  this  a  note-book  which 
he  consulted.  "  I  think  I  am  equal  to  that,"  he 
remarked.  "  I  may  not  do  as  well  as  Dummer. 
I  don't  expect  to.  But  I  have  watched  him  at 


fjo  All  for  Money. 

his  work,  and  with  his  assistants.  I  think  I  can 
turn  out  a  respectable  article." 

"  I  hope  so.  The  house  has  a  good  reputation. 
Landers  was  particular.  Never  any  poor  stuff 
went  out  of  his  cellars." 

"  Do  we  sell  at  much  pure  liquor  as  he 
did  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  about  the  same.  The  fact  is,  pure 
liquor  is  something  you  read  about  but  don't 
often  see.  It's  all  of  a  piece,  though  not  of  a  price, 
whether  wine  and  brandy  are  made  here  or  in 
Europe.  Our  merchants  may  as  well  have  the 
profits  as  foreigners,  and  money  is  what  you  are 
after." 

Nothing  was  said  ;  for  although  committed  to 
his  business,  Mr.  Wyatt  could  not  talk  of  it  with 
freedom.  He  had  been  well  initiated  into  the 
secrets  of  the  trade,  and  could  already  count  his 
gains  as  something  real  and  substantial.  He 
was  less  troubled  with  conscientious  scruples 
than  he  had  been  when  these  were  only  antici 
pated.  He  still  revolted  from  the  wholesale  frauds 
carried  on  with  his  consent  ;  yet  for  this  he  jus 
tified  himself  by  the  fact  that  others  were  engaged 


Pure  Liqiiors.  /j»/ 

in  the  same  nefarious  work.  His  liquors  were  as 
pure  as  could  be  bought  elsewhere. 

He  had  taken  out  a  license  for  his  business, 
and  \vas  recognized  as  a  merchant  in  good  stand 
ing.  He  gave  to  those  who  bought  of  him  a  fail- 
measure  of  such  goods  as  they  desired.  He  urged 
no  one  to  buy,  and  would  have  scorned  the  im 
putation  of  luring  men  to  drunkenness.  He  would 
have  abolished  the  bar,  so  long  known  as  an  at 
tractive  feature  of  the  establishment,  had  it  been 
possible  to  do  so  without  offending  his  best  cus 
tomers. 

Yet,  truth  to  tell,  he  was  degenerating  rapidly, 
although  still  maintaining  what  he  was  pleased 
to  consider  a  proper  respect  for  himself.  His 
place  of  business  was  closed  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
he  attended  church  regularly.  He  was  abste 
mious  in  his  personal  habits  ;  allowing  himself  no 
more  indulgence  than  had  been  his  wont. 

Now  he  was  troubled  in  regard  to  the  father 
of  the  girl  whose  face  haunted  him.  He  wished 
this  man  would  come,  at  least,  to  receive  the 
wages  due  ;  and  despite  all  sophistry,  he  could 
not  but  question  how  far  he  was  himself  respon- 


132  All  for  Money. 

sible.  Mr.  Reeves  had  told  him  that  Dummer 
was  a  miserable  sot  ;  half  dead  with  disease 
induced  by  habits  of  drinking,  and  that  the  fellow 
would  be  thankful  for  any  work  at  any  price. 
"  Past  hope."  But  if  left  to  himself,  with  no  temp 
tation  from  without,  who  knew  that  at  the  last 
extremity  some  friend  might  not  have  appeared 
to  save  him  ? 

Had  Hermon  Wyatt  possessed  a  more  sympa 
thetic  nature,  or  finer  sensibilities,  he  would  have 
thought  of  this  man  with  a  tenderness  which  was 
now  impossible  to  him. 

A.S  it  was,  he  did  not  forget  the  humble  home 
where  it  might  be  there  was  positive  suffering. 

His  time  was  so  occupied  that  it  was  late  in 
the  afternoon  before  he  found  an  opportunity  to 
visit  Mrs.  Ilsley's ;  and  when  there,  he  said 
directly  :  "I  have  come  to  inquire  for  Mr.  Dum 
mer.". 

"  And  bad  enough  he  is,"  was  the  reply. 
"  Come  home  last  night  with  a  pain  such  as  he 
never  had  before,  and  his  wife  not  knowing  what 
to  do.  He's  easier  now.  The  doctor's  been  to 
see  him  and  stopped  to  tell  me  on  his  way.  He 


Pure  Liqiiors. 


says  it's  a  hard  case,  but  he  hopes  he'll  get  him 
through  this  spell.  You  see,  sir,  his  blood's  all 
poisoned  with  the  drink.  If  he'd  only  give  it  up." 

"  Would  there  be  any  hope  of  his  getting  well 
again  ?" 

"There's  always  hope,  sir,  when  the  like  of  him 
give  up  their  cups.  The  doctor  says  he's  a  fine 
constitution  in  his  favor.  Sure  our  doctor  would 
fetch  him  through  if  anybody  could,  and  without 
a  drop  of  the  stuff  either.  He's  troubled  about 
his  work  ;  but  Lizzie  says  she  hain't  the  face  to 
go  there.  She's  only  a  shadow  to-day,  though 
she's  handsome  as  handsome  can  be.  She  minded 
the  shop  while  I  went  up  to  see  her  father. 
'Twant  long  I  could  stay,  but  they  never  ask 
neighboring  from  any  other." 

"  I  am  glad  they  have  one  friend." 

"  O  sir,  they've  many,  only  they  don't  take  to 
everybody.  We've  a  decent  neighborhood  as 
any,  since  we're  quit  of  the  drink  shops." 

"  Is  Mr.  Dummer's  family  in  need  of  food  or 
fuel  ?" 

"  I'm  thinking  they're  not  over  well  off  for 
firing,  though  it's  likely  they've  got  money.  I've 


134  All  j or  Money. 

sold  as  cheap  as  I  dared,  and  they  not  find  out 
I  was  giving  more  than  they  paid  for,  but  I've 
used  up  the  five  dollars  you  left.  I've  kept  ac 
count,  if  you're  wanting  to  see  it." 

"  Thank  you.  I  am  willing  to  trust  your  hon 
esty.  Here  is  another  five,  and  I  will  call  round 
again  in  a  few  days.  Is  there  anything  more  I 
can  do  for  them  ?" 

The  door  opened,  arid  Lizzie  Dummer  sprang 
in  with  an  exclamation  upon  her  lips,  which  was 
suppressed  as  her  eyes  rested  upon  the  stranger. 

"  Please,  sir,  are  you  Mr.  Wyatt  ?"  she  asked 
timidly. 

"  My  name  is  Wyatt,"  he  replied,  with  a  feeling 
of  positive  shame  at  the  acknowledgment. 

"  Then  my  father  has  been  working  for  you, 
sir. '  My  father  is  Mr.  Dummer." 

"  Your  father  has  worked  for  me." 

"  Don't  tell  me  the  gentleman  is  him  that 
bought  old  Landers'  liquor  store,  and  just  pour 
ing  out  the  horrid  stuff  by  casks  and  hogsheads  !" 
cried  Mrs.  Ilsley.  "It  can't  be  him,  Lizzie. 
You've  made  a  mistake,  child." 

It  was  a  terrible  mistake,  yet   Hermon  Wyatt 


Pure  Liquors. 


was  forced  to  admit  the  charge  made  against 
him. 

"  Well,  I  wouldn't  thought  it,"  said  the  woman, 
in  a  tone  of  mingled  surprise  and  sadness.  You're 
no  more  like  old  Landers  than  —  "  Here  her 
comparison  failed,  and  she  stood  staring  blankly 
at  her  visitor,  until  she  found  voice  to  add  :  "  I 
nevcr'd  thought  it,  and  you  looking  so  clean  and 
decent,  so  like  a  gentleman.  It's  not  my  place 
to  say  it,  sir,  but  you're  not  fit  for  your  business." 

"  Why  not,  my  good  woman  ?" 

"  Because,  sir,  it's  a  pity  to  spoil  a  fine  face  and 
fine  figure,  and  you  must  be  after  drinking  your 
own  liquors." 

"  I  never  taste  of  liquor.  It  is  against  my  prin 
ciples,"  answered  the  merchant,  in  his  confusion. 

"Sure,  I'm  thinking  that  may  be  true,  by  your 
looks  ;  but  it's  strange  to  be  selling  the  stuff 
you'd  not  taste  yourself,  sir.  It's  bold  in  me, 
but  you're  in  a  bad  business,  sir.  I'd  rather  stand 
behind  my  little  counter  and  sell  taffy  by  the 
pennyworth,  than  take  my  chance  with  you  in 
the  long." 

"  O   sir  !"  sobbed    Lizzie,    whose  feelings    had 


136  All  for  Money. 

been  so  overwrought  that  they  must  needs  find 
vent  in  tears. 

Was  ever  man  in  a  more  awkward  position  ? 
He  wished  himself  anywhere  else,  yet  would  not 
go  without  accomplishing  the  purpose  for  which 
he  came. 

"  I  am  sorry  you  disapprove  of  me,  Mrs.  Ilsley," 
he  said,  with  an  effort  to  speak  lightly. 

"  It's  not  you,  sir,  at  all.  You're  a  proper  look 
ing  man,  and  well  spoken.  But  it's  the  business 
you're  at.  I'll  not  be  saying  more  of  that  though. 
I've  been  overbold." 

"  I  m  not  disposed  to  blame  you.  I  know  peo 
ple  look  at  the  business  differently.  But,  Miss 
Dummer,  I  wish  to  be  a  friend  to  your  father,  and  if 
I  can  assist  him  or  his  family  in  any  way  I  shall  be 
glad  to  do  it.  He  was  recommended  to  me  as  a 
man  I  could  depend  upon  for  certain  work,  and 
he  has  done  it  well.  I  have  paid  him  the 
wages  we  agreed  upon,  but  I  am  willing  to 
double  the  amount.  He  has  fairly  earned  it,  so 
it  is  no  chanty.  Shall  I  pay  the  money  to 
you  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,  sir.     I  don't  know  what   father 


Pure  Liquors. 


would  say.  You  are  kind,  but  I  wish  he  could 
do  some  other  kind  of  work." 

"  I  wish  he  could,  Miss  Dummer,  and  if  I  could 
help  him  to  some  other  kind  of  work  I  should  be 
very  glad  to." 

"  Sure,  sir,  will  you  walk  into  my  bit  of  a 
kitchen  ?  There's  customers  coming,  and  they'll 
maybe  wonder." 

The  bit  of  a  kitchen  was  so  tidy,  and  so  bright 
with  sunlight  that  it  seemed  almost  spacious  ; 
and  Hermon  Wyatt  half  envied  the  man  or 
woman  who  could  be  content  to  dwell  in  such  a 
place.  He  knew  that  greed  of  gain  was  dwarf 
ing  his  soul  and  perverting  his  better  nature.  He 
looked  at  the  young  girl  before  him,  pale  and 
drooping.  Why  was  she  doomed  to  poverty  ? 
Why  must  she  be  jostled  rudely  by  the  crowd, 
while  others  were  sheltered  lovingly  ? 

"I  hope  your  father  will  soon  be  better,"  he 
said  at  length. 

"I  hope  so,  sir.  The  doctor  says  perhaps  he 
might  if  he  would  give  up  drinking  anything  but 
tea,  and  coffee,  and  milk,  and  water."  By  the 
use  of  so  many  substitutes  Lizzie  Dummer  had 


138  All  for  Money. 

avoided    the   one    word   which   was   to   her   the 
synonym  of  all  evil. 

"  Is  he  disposed  to  follow  the  doctor's  prescrip 
tion  ?"  asked  her  companion. 

"  He  says  he'd  be  glad  to,  sir.  He  loves 
mother  and  me,  but  it's  so  long  since  he  begun 
this  way,  he  thinks  he  can't  change.  If  he  only 
would  !" 

"  He  could.  Other  men  have.  Let  him  try 
in  the  right  way." 

"  Oh,  please  tell  me  how,  sir." 

"  Let  him  keep  out  of  the  vray  of  liquor  ;  keep 
where  he  won't  see  it  or  smell  it." 

"  That's  what  mother  says,  sir.  But  poor  fa 
ther  !  He's  so  bad,  and  now  he  says  he's  only  fit 
for  one  kind  of  work,  what  he  does  for  you.  But 
I'm  troubling  you,  sir.  I  ought  not  to." 

"  You  are  not  troubling  me,  Miss  Dummer.  I 
came  here  to  inquire  for  your  father,"  said  Mr. 
Wyatt  ;  and  counting  out  some  money  he  gave 
it  into  the  hand  of  the  young  girl. 

Then  seeing  that  Mrs.  llsley  was  alone  in  her 
shop,  he  passed  through  into  the  street. 

"That's  the  strangest  man,   dear.     The  stran- 


Pure  Liquors.  139 

gest  man,  and  I  speaking  to  him  as  though  he  was 
one  of  the  neighbors.  What  ever  he'll  think  I 
don't  know,  but  'twas  the  truth  I  told  him." 

"  See  what  he  has  given  me,"  responded  Lizzie, 
displaying  her  roll  of  bills.  "  He's  not  all  bad, 
Mrs.  Ilsley." 

"No,  dear,  and  I  mind  me  I've  heard  liquor 
men  have  hearts,  though  it  don't  seem  so.  Now 
take  the  money  home  and  tell  your  father  all 
about  it.  Give  him  the  best  of  everything  till 
he's  strong  again." 

"  Oh,  Mrs.  Ilsley,  will  he  ever  be  ?     I'm  afraid." 

"  Well,  it's  not  strange,  dear,  that  you  are. 
There's  only  one  way,  and  the  doctor  knows 
that.  And  be  sure  you're  loving  always  to  your 
father.  He's  not  one  that  wants  to  be  bad.  He's 
been  led  astray." 

The  sick  man  was  waiting  anxiously  for  his 
daughter  when  he  heard  her  step,  and  directly  she 
was  saying  :  "  Now,  father,  you  haint  anything 
to  do  but  get  well.  I've  got  lots  of  money,  and 
you  can  have  everything  you  want.  Mr.  Wyatt 
was  in  Mrs.  Ilsley's  shop,  and  I  saw  him." 

"  You  did,  Lizzie  !     How  came  he  to  be.  there  ?" 


140  All  for  Money. 

"  He  said  he  came  to  inquire  for  you,  and  he 
spoke  kind  to  me,  as  if  he  was  real  good." 

"  He's  not  a  bad  man,  as  men  are  judged.  He's 
fair  to  deal  with,  and  he's  always  treated  me  well. 
He's  new  to  his  business  ;  and  if  I  can  judge  he 
don't  like  it  over  well.  It's  the  profits  he's 
after.  But  you  said  you  had  money.  Where  did 
you  get  it  ?" 

This  question  was  answered,  and  the  conversa 
tion  between  Lizzie  Dummer  and  Mr.  Wyatt 
repeated. 

"That's  something  I  never  heard  of  being  done 
before,"  remarked  Mr.  Dummer.  "  If  there  was 
enough  left  of  me  to  pay  for  saving  I  don't  know 
but  I'd  try  what  I  could  do.  But  it's  no  use,  wife, 
is  it  ?  I'm  most  gone,  and  the  sooner  I'm  out  of 
the  way  the  better." 

He  was  not  permitted  to  speak  longer  in  this 
strain.  His  wife  and  daughter  pleaded  with  him 
to  make  one  more  effort  to  reform. 

"  I  can't  do  it,"  was  his  despairing  reply  ;  and 
yet  the  next  morning,  when  Dr.  Magee  visited 
him,  he  consented  to  submit  to  any  regimen 
which  should  be  prescribed. 


Pure  Liquors.  141 

"  It  will  be  up-hill  work,  and  you'll  be  ready  to 
faint  by  the  way,"  said  the  young  physician. 
"  You  must  expect  that,  and  it  may  be,  after 
all,  you  will  never  be  well  ;  but  you  can  die  a 
sober  man,  and  that  is  worth  all  the  effort  you 
will  be  obliged  to  make.  I  will  try  to  see  you 
every  day,  and  I  will  do  what  I  can  for  you." 

"  But  I  can't  pay  for  so  many  visits." 

"  You  can  pay  what  I  shall  ask.  There  will 
be  no  trouble  about  that." 

Mrs.  Ilsley,  hearing  the  result  of  this  call,  said 
to  the  daughter:  "Then  your  father's  through 
with  Mr  Wyatt." 

"  Yes,  ma'am.  He  wont  go  back  there.  I  wish 
Mr.  Wyatt  wouldn't  sell  such  bad  stuff." 

"I  wish  so  too,  but  it's  likely  money  makes 
him.  That's  what  they're  all  after.  Mrs.  Riley 
says  she  never'd  sell  another  drop,  only  she  must 
feed  her  children  and  she  could  get  money  for 
liquor." 

"  She  might  sell  coffee.     That's  always  good." 

"  So  it  is.  But  many  a  man  who  wont  pay  the 
price  of  a  cup  of  coffee  will  buy  rum  and  whiskey. 
The  poison  stuff  whiskey  is  too.  Not  a  shadow 


142  All  for  Money. 

like  the  old  Scotch  whiskey  I've  heard  my 
father  talk  about.  That  was  stilled  in  out-of- 1  he- 
way  places,  cheating  the  government,  but  'twa-; 
made  of  wholesome  things.  Them  that  drinked 
it  was  drunk,  but  they  warn't  poisoned  like  as 
they  be  in  the  drinking  dens  here." 

"I  don't  think  whiskey  could  ever  be  good." 

"  O  no,  dear.  I'm  not  saying  that,  but  there's 
a  difference  as  how  it's  made." 

Mr.  Dummer  knew  far  more  of  this  than  did 
the  woman  who  thus  spoke.  He  knew,  also, 
that  his  physical  system  had  been  subjected  to  a 
process  of  slow  poisoning,  and  that  there  was  but 
one  possibility  of  its  effects  being  eradicated. 
As  he  had  said,  there  was  not  much  left  of  him. 
But  what  remained  was  fully  alive  to  the  misery 
of  quivering  nerves  and  wildly  throbbing  veins. 
The  very  pangs  of  death  seemed  to  have  taken 
hold  upon  him. 

How  many  others,  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  our  land,  are  enduring  a  like  torture  : 
themselves  responsible,  and  yet  not  alone  re 
sponsible  ! 

Mr.  Wyatt  filled  the  order  of  which  mention 


Pure  Liquors.  143 

has  been  made  ;  sending  out  in  skilfully  stained 
casks  a  manufactured  liquor,  upon  which  was 
realized  a  profit  sufficiently  large  to  satisfy  the 
most  avaricious  dealer. 

"  Did  ye  mind  that  the  masther  niver  tasted  a 
dhrap  himself?"  asked  one  Irishman  of  another. 

"Faith,  an'  I  did,"  was  the  reply.  "He's  not 
the  ould  man  at  all,  but  mayhap  he'll  grow. 
What'll  iver  he  do  without  Dummer  ?" 

"  Ye  may  well  say  that,  though  the  poor 
crathur's  on  his  last  ligs  intirely.  I'd  not  be 
stannin'  in  his  shoes  for  money.  Wyatt's  civil 
spoken,  but  he'll  be  the  masther.  He  kapes  an 
eye  out." 

The  liquor  sold  to  a  licensed  retailer  was  sold 
again  to  be  retailed  by  the  glass,  or  half  glass,  to 
customers  so  poor,  they  would  never  presume  to 
call  for  their  drink  except  in  the  lowest  grog- 
geries.  And  yet  each  man  made  a  profit  ;  adul 
terating  and  cheapening  ;  at  the  same  time 
adding  the  most  potent  acids  to  give  it  the 
requisite  strength.  If  tears  flowed  from  the  eyes 
of  some  poor  wretch  as  he  drank,  so  much  the 
more  sure  was  he  that  he  had  received  the  worth 


144  All  for  Money. 

of   his    money.     As   he    gasped    for    breath,  he 
extolled  the  poison  which  nearly  strangled  him. 

Licensed  and  unlicensed.  What  was  the  dif 
ference,  save  that  in  one  case  the  vender  was 
protected  by  law,  while  he  paid  a  stipulated  sum 
for  the  privilege  of  making  drunkards  ;  and  in  the 
otner,  some  bloated  creature  pocketed  the  entire 
proceeds  of  his  miserable  sales  ? 


CHAPTER   VIII. 
A  BROTHER'S  REMONSTRANCE. 

ERMON  WYATT  had  been  making  up 
his  monthly  account,  calculating  ex 
penditures  and  receipts  ;  and  as  he 
closed  his  ledger,  the  most  careless  observer 
would  have  noticed  the  grim  smile  of  satisfaction 
upon  his  face  ;  and  so  far  as  dollars  and  cents 
were  concerned,  he  had  abundant  reason  for  sa 
tisfaction.  Mr.  Harvey's  predictions  had  been 
more  than  realized,  and  this  gentleman  was  ready 
to  advance  any  amount  of  funds  which  might  be 
desired. 

Frequent  letters  were  exchanged  between  the 
partners ;  always  having  reference  to  business, 
and  yet  never  one  was  written  by  the  senior 
partner,  in  which  was  not  some  allusion  to  Milly 
Legrew.  She  had  been  driving  with  her  aunt  ; 


All  for  Money. 


or  she  was  sitting  at  the  piano  ;  or,  perhaps,  she 
had  been  chatting  with  the  writer,  and  the  echo 
of  her  laughter  still  lingered  around  him.  The 
young  man  read  these  letters  again  and  again  ; 
dreaming  over  the  lines  which  revealed  some 
thing  of  the  home-life  he  could  so  well  enjoy. 

"  Letters,  sir,"  said  the  boy  whose  duty  it  was 
to  bring  the  mail. 

One  from  the  many  was  selected  and  perused 
eagerly,  and  one  paragraph  of  this  riveted  the 
attention  of  the  reader. 

"  Milly  is  to  remain  with  us  through  the  com 
ing  summer,  and  we  are  anticipating  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  you  whenever  you  can  take  a  vacation." 

Mr.  Harvey  judged  rightly  that  his  cousin's 
ambition  for  wealth  would  be  stimulated  by  such 
seemingly  careless  reminders  of  both  the  past 
and  future.  One  man  might  die  from  the  effects 
of  poison.  Thousands  of  others  might  be  ruined 
•?oul  and  body.  But  for  all  this,  Hermon  Wyatt 
must  have  money,  let  the  consequences  be  what 
they  might.  Each  man  must  regard  his  own  in 
dividual  interests.  Liquor  would  be  manufac 
tured  and  sold.  Why  not  by  him,  as  well  as  his 


A  Brother  s  Remonstrance. 


neighbor  ?  The  supply  would  never  exceed  the 
demand,  and  he  was  in  no  way  responsible  for 
the  demand. 

In  employing  Dummer,  and  paying  extra  wages, 
he  had  really  done  the  man  a  kindness.  He  had 
also  sent  messages  of  warning  and  advice.  It 
was  far  easier  to  sustain  his  position  than  to  as 
sume  it,  and  he  flattered  himself  that  no  more 
accusers  would  rise  up  to  confront  him. 

Throughout  the  establishment  there  was  a 
busy  activity.  Panic  and  hard  times  were  un 
known  here.  If  men  failed  and  became  despond 
ent,  there  was  a  panacea,  the  price  of  which 
would  be  paid  though  wives  and  children  starved. 

After  an  unusually  busy  day  the  merchant 
went  to  his  hotel  undecided  how  he  should  spend 
the  evening.  He  might  remain  quietly  by  him 
self,  or  he  might  attend  a  concert,  and  so  gratify 
a  taste  for  music  which  with  him  was  almost  a 
passion. 

He  was  debating  the  point  when  a  servant  an 
nounced  a  visitor,  and  a  plainly-dressed  man 
bearing  a  striking  resemblance  to  himself  was 
admitted  to  his  room.  The  exclamations  : 


148  All  for  Money. 

"Brother    George  "  and  "Brother  Hermon  "  at 
tested  to  their  relationship. 

"  I'd  lost  track  of  you  till  I  saw  your  name  in 
the  paper  a  month  or  two  ago,  and  since  then 
I've  wanted  to  see  you  so  I  couldn't  very  well 
stay  away,"  remarked  the  elder  brother,  a  little 
later  in  the  evening  ;  adding  directly  :  "  You're 
a  good  looking  man,  Hermon." 

"  So  are  you,  George,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  am 
glad  to  see  you,  although  I  didn't  expect  you." 

"  You  ought  to  be  glad,  Hermon.  I  couldn't 
afford  to  take  such  a  journey  these  hard  times, 
but  I  wanted  to  sec  you." 

"  I've  thought  a  good  many  times  about  going 
West  to  visit  you  and  the  other  boys,  but  I  was 
waiting  till  I  made  my  fortune." 

"  Well,  I  didn't  wait  for  that.  You've  got  a 
handsome  place  here." 

"  Yes,  it's  comfortable." 

"  Not  much  like  the  old  home,  and  not  much 
like  my  house  either,  though  I  built  a  new  one  a 
few  years  ago.  You've  changed  a  good  deal 
since  the  last  time  I  saw  you." 

"  A  man  changes  from  fifteen  to  thirty.     You 


A  Brother  s  Remonstrance. 


have  changed,  but  I  should  have  known  you  any 
where.  I  hope  you  left  your  family  well." 

"  I  did,  and  I  have  quite,  a  family  to  leave.  I 
have  six  boys  and  three  girls  ;  six  more  of  us 
than  when  we  went  West." 

"  That  is  a  respectable  number  for  one  house. 
I  hope  your  boys  are  all  brave,  and  your  girls  all 
fair." 

"  They  look  well  enough,  and  so  far  I've 
nothing  to  complain  of  in  their  behavior.  Not 
one  of  my  boys  uses  tobacco  or  liquor.  You  see 
I  bring  them  up  as  mother  brought  us  up.  I 
don't  forget." 

"  No  more  do  I.  I  never  used  tobacco  or 
liquor." 

George  Wyatt  looked  sharply  at  his  brother, 
remarking  :  "  A  man  who  sells  liquor  generally 
drinks  it." 

Up  to  this  moment  the  merchant  had  not 
thought  of  his  business  during  the  interview. 
Now  a  burning  blush  overspread  his  face,  and  it 
was  with  difficulty  that  he  said  :  "  It  is  true  that 
I  sell  liquor,  and  equally  true  that  I  do  not  drink 
it." 


150  All  for  Monzy. 

l<  Why  not  ?" 

"Because  I  don't  believe  in  it.  I  made  up  my 
mind  when  I  left  home,  and  I  havn't  seen  any 
occasion  to  change  it." 

"  I'm  glad  to  hear  it,  and  your  looks  bear  out 
your  words.  You  don't  look  like  a  drinking  man. 
I'm  dead  set  against  drinking  and  selling  both. 
Selling  liquor  is  the  meanest  business  a  man  can 
do.  How  in  the  world  did  you  come  to  go  into 
it  ?  Perhaps  you  think  I  havn't  any  right  to  talk 
so  to  you,  but  I  came  on  purpose.  I  couldn't 
sleep  nights  after  I  saw  by  the  paper  you'd  bought 
out  the  best  located  liquor  store  in  the  city. 
The  last  I  heard  of  you  before  that  you  was  sell 
ing  grain  and  flour.  Why  didn't  you  stick  to  it  ?" 

"  Because  I  couldn't  meet  my  liabilities.  It 
wasn't  through  any  fault  of  mine  either.  Some 
of  my  best  customers  failed,  and  everything  went 
wrong.  I  shouldn't  have  given  up  if  I  hadn't  been 
obliged  to  ;  and  if  I'd  had  a  chance  I  should  have 
started  again  in  the  same  line.  But  I  was  out 
of  money  and  out  of  work.  I  couldn't  get  either, 
and  I  hadn't  anything  to  live  on.  I  gave  up 
everything,  square  and  honest,  and  was  ready  to 


A  Brother  s  Remonstrance.          151 

begin  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder.  But  a  man  must 
have  standing  room,  and  I  couldn't  get  so  much 
as  that.  Leander  Harvey  sent  me  an  invitation 
to  make  him  a  visit  and  I  went.  He  wantec 
somebody  to  use  some  monc-y  for  him  and  made 
me  the  offer  of  it.  He  is  the  owner  of  the  store. 
He  furnished  every  dollar  that  was  paid  for  it, 
and  I  am  really  only  his  agent." 

"  Then  let  him  run  the  store  himself." 
"  He  don't  want  to  do  that,  and  if  he  did  there 
would  be  no  place  for  me.     He  has  enough  else 
to  do." 

"And  I  wish  you  had.  If  I  had  my  way  you 
wouldn't  dare  to  sell  liquor  another  day.  You 
wouldn't  do  it  any  more  than  you'd  commit  high 
way  robbery.  The  two  ought  to  be  ranked  to 
gether ;  though  to  my  thinking  robbery  is  the 
smallest  crime.  I  believe  in  prohibition  ;  prohi 
bition,  too,  that  means  something.  I  suppose  you 
sell  under  a  license  ?" 

"Yes,  I  mean  to  be  fair  and  honest." 
"You  can't  be.      There's  no  such  thing  as  a 
fair,    honest    liquor-seller.     Selling    is    a    fraud 
every  time,  and  license  is  a  fraud.     Government 


I 52  All  for  Money. 

has  no  right  to  protect  an  evil  it  ought  to  pro 
hibit." 

"  There  is  a  vast  amount  of  money  and  an  army 
of  men  engaged  in  the  liquor  business.  Has 
government  any  right  to  confiscate  this  property 
and  turn  these  men  out  of  employment  ?" 

"Yes,  it  has  a  perfect  right  to  do  it.  Why 
not  ?  There  ain't  many  that  believe  in  free  rum, 
and  everybody  who  don't,  acknowledges  that 
government  has  the  right  to  put  restrictions  on 
the  traffic.  A  man  can  sell  wholesome  food 
without  taking  out  a  license  or  being  restricted. 
I  know  he's  not  allowed  to  traffic  openly  on  the 
Sabbath,  but  that  regulation  is  no  burden.  He 
can  sell  to  minors  and  drunkards,  to  anybody  who 
will  pay  him." 

"  He  sells  what  people  call  for,  and  so  do  I. 
You  talk  as  if  the  money  made  in  the  liquor  busi 
ness  was  thrown  away.  Families  are  supported 
with  the  profits,  and  if  you  had  your  way  there 
would  be  more  men  out  of  employment  than  there 
are  now.  The  country  would  be  bankrupt  for 
want  of  a  sufficient  revenue." 

So  you  have  learned  to  talk  in  that  way,  and 


A  Brother  s  Remonstrance. 


if  you  believe  what  you  say  you  are  far  gone.  I 
didn't  reckon  on  your  being  so  bad.  I'm  trying 
to  do  something  for  temperance  in  our  State,  and 
I  thought  perhaps  I  could  have  some  influence 
with  you.  I  wanted  to  see." 

"  I  am  glad  you  came,"  said  the  younger 
brother,  who  then  proceeded  to  speak  of  other 
members  of  their  family,  thus  turning  attention 
from  himself  ;  but  this  was  only  for  a  time. 

"  Now,  Hermon,  let  us  come  back  to  business," 
was  the  remark  which  changed  abruptly  the  sub 
ject  of  conversation.  "  I'm  troubled  about  you. 
You  aint  the  right  kind  of  a  lookinar  man  to  be 
selling  liquor." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that." 

"  I  do,  and  as  I  said  before,  if  I  had  the  power 
I'd  send  you  to  State's  prison  if  you  kept  your 
store  open  another  day." 

"  That  would  be  a  tyrant's  act." 
I  "  An  act  demanded  by  the  good  of  society  can 
never  be  tyrannical.  I  know  all  there  is  to  be 
said  on  your  side  of  the  question,  and  it  don't 
amount  to  anything.  It  wouldn't  have  a  feather's 
weight  with  any  disinterested  person,  and  you 


r $4  All  for  Money. 

know  it.  Liquor  selling  is  a  crime  against 
humanity  and  an  abomination  in  the  sight  of 
God." 

"  That  is  wholesale  condemnation  of  the  gov 
ernment  that  sanctions  it.  It  is  recognized  as 
laudable  and  honorable." 

"  I  aint  sure  about  that.  In  giving  it  the 
sanction  of  law,  I  rather  think  there's  an 
acknowledgment  of  it's  being  an  evil  that  must 
be  regulated.  If  government  has  a  right  to  re 
strict  it,  it  has  just  as  good  a  right  to  prohibit  it. 
Then,  of  course,  it  has  a  right  to  punish  anybody 
that  defies  its  power.  You  can't  help  seeing 
that.  Now  answer  me,  brother.  Would  you 
ever  think  of  defending  the  traffic  if  you  hadn't 
engaged  in  it  ?" 

"Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  Brother  George,  I 
don't  suppose  I  should.  But  I  have  had  new 
light  on  the  subject  since  I  began  to  think  about 
it  seriously,  and  1  have  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  a  man  has  a  perfect  right  to  sell  any  article 
that  the  community  wish  to  buy.  The  fact  is,  if 
there  was  no  one  to  buy  liquor  there  would  be  no 
one  to  sell." 


A  Brothers  Remonstrance. 


"  Turn  it  round.  It's  as  true  one  side  as  the 
other.  Then  there  are  a  good  many  who  don't 
care  enough  about  it  to  go  far  out  of  their  way 
for  it.  They  wouldn't  go  to  a  low,  tippling 
saloon.  They'd  be  ashamed  to  be  seen  in  such 
a  place,  and  I  don't  wonder  ;  though,  after  all, 
one  place  is  as  good  as  another.  It's  not  the 
place,  but  the  business  that  brings  disgrace." 

"  That  is  saying  too  much,  George.  You'll 
not  see  any  drunkards  about  my  store  ;  and 
another  thing  :  I'm  not  defrauding  the  govern 
ment,  like  the  keepers  of  these  low  saloons.  I 
will  insist  that  there's  a  decided  difference  be 
tween  us." 

"  You  sell  under  a  license,  and  so  throw  the 
responsibility  upon  the  government  that  licenses 
you.  The  man  who  sells  without  a  license  does 
it  at  his  own  risk,  and  takes  the  responsibility.  I 
believe,  on  the  whole,  he  has  as  much  claim  to 
be  respected  as  you  have." 

"  That's  fanaticism  with  a  vengeance,  George. 
That's  a  little  ahead  of  anything  I've  heard 
before.  Don't  you  think  government  has  a  right 
to  license  a  traffic  that  will  bring  it  a  large 


1 56  All  for  Money. 

revenue  ;  especially,  if  the  traffic  is  sure  to  be 
carried  on  any  way  ?" 

"  No,  I  don't.  There  are  such  things  as  right 
and  wrong.  There's  a  higher  court  of  reference 
than  any  in  this  world." 

"  If  you  are  going  to  discuss  the  matter  from 
a  Christian  standpoint,  you  will  have  me  at  dis 
advantage.  I  make  no  pretensions  to  religion." 

"  I'm  sorry  you're  not  a  Christian,  but  if  a  man 
is  serving  the  evil  one  with  all  his  strength  of 
mind  and  body,  I  don't  want  him  to  pretend  he 
is  serving  the  Lord  ;  and  if  the  ruler  of  darkness 
has  any  servants  in  this  world,  they  are  the  rum- 
sellers,  no  matter  where  they  do  their  business." 

Hermon  Wyatt  was  angry  ;  all  the  more  so 
because  he  could  not  conscientiously  deny  the 
truth  of  what  had  been  said. 

"  You  think  I'm  saying  very  severe  things," 
continued  the  visitor,  who  had  waited  vainly  for 
a  reply  to  his  last  remarks.  "  You  think  I've  no 
business  to  talk  so,  but  I  came  here  to  do  my 
duty.  I  want  to  turn  you  from  your  evil  way, 
and  if  I  say  what  I  think  I  can't  help  being  severe. 
Don't  lay  it  up  against  me,  Brother  Hermon.  I 


A  Brothers  Remonstrance. 


sha'n't  stay  long  with  you.  It  may  be  we  sha'n't 
see  each  other  again  after  this  little  visit,  till  we 
meet  in  eternity  ;"  and  the  speaker  extended  his 
hand,  while  looking  affectionately  into  the  face  of 
his  companion. 

"  I  wont  lay  up  anything  against  you,"  re 
sponded  the  younger  man.  "  I  know  things  seem 
to  you  just  as  you  represent  them." 

"  They  art'  just  as  I  represent  them." 

"  I  can't  agree  with  you.  Now  suppose  I  should 
give  up  my  business.  Do  you  think  there  would 
be  any  less  wine  and  brandy  sold  in  the  city  ?" 

"  I  don't  know.  And  besides,  that  aint  the 
question  for  you  to  settle." 

"  I  can  tell  you.  There  wouldn't  be  a  drop 
less  sold.  Somebody  would  buy  our  store  just  as 
it  is,  and  the  purchaser  might  be  a  worse  man 
than  I  am.  If  my  giving  up  would  put  a  stop  to 
the  business,  I'd  give  up  to-morrow  morning,  if  I 
had  to  go  to  the  poor  house  for  my  life-time." 

"  I  wish  to  heavens  the  whole  responsibility 
was  on  your  shoulders.  I  should  be  glad  to  have 
you  put  to  the  test." 

"  In  that  case  you  would  see  me  do  as  I  say." 


158  All  for  Money. 

"  Then  you  don't  believe  in  your  business. 
You  don't  consider  yourself  engaged  in  a  whole 
some,  remunerative  industry." 

"  It  is  remunerative.  There  is  no  reason  to 
dispute  that.  Fortunes  are  made  in  it." 

"  And  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  for 
tunes  squandered  in  it.  It  may  be  remunerative 
to  you  and  a  few  others,  but  not  to  the  masses 
of  the  people.  It  is  draining  the  resources  of  the 
country  to  a  frightful  amount.  We  shall  be  a 
nation  of  paupers  unless  there  is  some  change  for 
the  better.  Rum  manufacturers  and  rumsellers 
get  rich,  if  they  don't  get  to  be  such  drunkards 
that  they  lose  all  control  of  themselves.  But  the 
consumer  grows  poorer  and  poorer.  Many  a  man 
spends  half  his  earnings  for  drink,  wastes  what 
might  give  him  and  his  family  every  comfort 
they  need.  We  wont  say  anything  about  the 
time  he  spends  in  tippling,  nor  the  time  he  loses 
from  sickness,  but  all  these  ought  to  be  counted 
if  you're  going  to  make  a  square  calculation  of 
profit  and  loss." 

"But  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  that  man,"  said 
the  merchant.  "  He  is  a  free  moral  agent,  and 


A  Brother  s  Remonstrance. 


I  couldn't  control  him  if  I  would.  Can't  you  see, 
George,  that  I'm  not  to  blame  for  what  he 
does?  If  my  customers  didn't  buy  their  liquors 
of  me  they  would  buy  them  of  somebody  else. 
So  the  only  question  for  me  to  consider  is  whether 
I  shall  take  the  profits  of  their  trade.  I  am  do 
ing  what  I  think  best,  and  I  am  not  likely  to  for 
feit  the  conditions  of  my  license.  A  man  must 
have  a  good  moral  character  in  order  to  obtain  a 
license." 

"  I  wouldn't  give  much  for  his  morality.  Money 
to  pay  the  fee  is  pretty  near  all  that's  needed. 
Men  who  believe  in  license  aint  generally  them 
that  believe  in  teetotalism.  Either  they're  paid 
for  voting  on  that  side,  or  else  they  like  some 
kind  of  liquor  themselves  ;  unless  they've  money 
in  the  business,  or  they  want  office.  It  may  be 
that  some  honest  temperance  men  believe  in 
license,  but  they  don't  live  where  I  do." 

"There  are  some  such,"  was  the  curt  reply. 

"  Grant  that  there  are.  Can  you  imagine  a 
more  inconsistent  set  of  human  beings  ?  Do  you 
think  they  are  really  working  for  the  cause  they 
profess  to  love  ?" 


160  All  for  Money. 

"  They  say  they  are,  and  I've  no  right  to  doubt 
their  word." 

"Perhaps  not,  but  by  their  fruits  ye  shall 
know  them.  How  is  it  about  yourself?  Which 
side  are  you  on  ?" 

"  I've  always  considered  myself  a  thorough 
going  temperance  man." 

"  You  can't  have  the  face  to  call  yourself  so 
now." 

"  I  havn't  found  it  necessary  to  say  anything 
about  it  before." 

"Do  you  belong  to  the  league  that  fights 
against  anything  like  legislation  on  the  subject 
except  license  ?" 

This  was  a  home  question  Hermon  Wyatt 
would  have  preferred  not  to  hear.  Only  a  few 
days  before  he  had  felt  obliged,  as  a  matter  of 
policy,  to  join  this  league,  of  whose  existence  he 
had  hardly  known  until  its  claims  were  presented 
to  him  by  a  brother  merchant. 

In  conclusion  his  visitor  had  said  :  "  You  see, 
we've  got  to  have  a  square  fight  with  the  fana 
tics.  Our  craft  is  in  danger,  but  if  we  all  hang 
together  we  can  beat  them.  It's  only  a  princi- 


A   Brother  s  Remonstrance.         161 

pie  with  them,  while  it's  dollars  and  cents  with 
us.  There's  too  much  money  invested  in  the 
liquor  trade  of  the  country  to  have  it  sacrificed  to 
the  prejudices  of  men  and  women  that  think  the 
devil  is  in  the  wine  cup.  One  way  and  another 
we  can  carry  the  elections,  and  then  they  may 
whistle  for  their  birds." 

This  decided  the  matter.  The  young  man 
enrolled  his  name  with  others  of  his  profession. 
Of  course,  he  also  subscribed  to  the  fund  neces 
sary  to  be  raised,  and  hoped  that  so  far  as  he 
was  personally  concerned  he  should  be  troubled 
no  further  in  regard  to  it.  Now  he  was  brought 
face  to  face  with  the  act,  and  his  brother  waited 
for  a  reply. 

"  I  expect  to  do  what  is  best  for  my  present 
interest,"  he  said  at  length.  "  If  I  am  in  the 
wrong  track  it  won't  help  my  case  if  I  leave  it  as 
poor  as  I  started.  If  I  stay  in  the  trade  I'm 
bound  to  make  money  out  of  it.  I'll  do  it  in  a 
fair  way,  though  ;  and  to  tell  the  whole  truth,  I 
have  joined  the  league  you  mentioned." 

"  I  might  have  expected  it,  Hermon.  I  sup 
pose  I  ought  to,  but  some  way  I  didn't.  I  hoped 


162  All  for  Money. 

you'd  give  a  square  no  to  my  question.  That's 
the  wickedest  society  there  is  in  the  country, 
and  the  wickedest  things  are  done  through  its 
influence." 

"  But  every  class  of  men  have  a  right  to  do 
what  they  can  to  protect  themselves." 

"Yes,  if  they  are  in  the  right ;  but  not  other 
wise.  You  know  you  are  doing  wrong,  Hermon. 
You  can't  deny  it.  You  have  said  things,  too, 
that  you  don't  believe  yourself.  You  said  it 
would  be  an  act  of  tyranny  on  the  part  of  govern 
ment  to  prohibit  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquor." 

"  I  don't  think  I  used  just  those  words." 

"  No,  but  they  amounted  to  the  same  thing. 
A  law  without  a  penalty  is  no  law  at  all.  Now 
it's  as  plain  as  daylight  that  if  government  has 
the  right  to  restrict  a  business  because  it  is 
doing  an  injury  to  society,  it  has  a  right  to  pro 
hibit  the  business  altogether.  You  can  talk 
about  gunpowder,  nitro-glycerine  and  dualine,  if 
you  want  to,  but  they're  no  more  to  the  point 
than  forty  other  things  men  say  when  they're 
trying  to  deceive  themselves  and  other  folks.  I 
have  told  the  truth  about  this  thing.  Did  you 


A  Brother  s  Remonstrance.  i6j 

ever  know  a  family  to  be  made  happier  by  the 
use  of  intoxicating  drinks  ?  Should  you  be  will 
ing  that  a  young  girl  you  loved  should  marry 
your  best  customer  ?" 

"  What  do  you  know  of  my  best  customer  ?" 

"  Nothing,  only  he  must  be  a  drinking  man, 
and  a  rich  man.  I  suppose  you  know  a  good 
deal  more  about  him  than  that." 

"  I  do  I  have  seen  him,  and  I  don't  think  any 
young  girl  would  be  likely  to  fancy  him.  He 
has  a  wife  and  grown  children." 

"  Got  a  good  wife  ?" 

"As  good  as  he  deserves  probably.  I  have 
been  told  that  she  considers  herself  a  good  judge 
of  wine." 

"  Has  she  any  sons  ?" 

"Four." 

"  Well,  there's  no  need  of  asking  questions 
about  them.  They'll  be  good  customers  for  some 
rumseller,  but  they'll  have  to  come  down  from 
their  father's  style  before  they  die.  Money  melts 
away  in  such  hands.  But  you  havn't  answered 
my  question." 

"What  was  it?" 


164  All  for  Money. 

"Did  you  ever  know  a  family  made  happier  by 
the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  ?" 

"  No,  I  never  did." 

"  But  it  can't  be  used  without  producing  some 
effect.  It  don't  make  happiness,  -but  it  does 
make  misery.  Don't  it  fill  our  poor  houses,  our 
jails,  and  our  States'  prisons  ?  Don't  it  make 
more  wretchedness  than  everything  else  ?  Now, 
Hermon,  if  you  never  speak  to  me  again  while 
you  live,  I  want  you  to  answer  these  ques 
tions." 

"  I  answer,  yes.  I'm  not  such  a  fool  that  I  can't 
see  it,  and  I'm  not  such  a  knave  as  to  den}'  it. 
But  I  am  only  one  of  a  great  many.  I  am  in  the 
business  and  I  can't  leave  it.  I'm  under  contract 
for  three  years,  and  I  can't  give  it  up." 

"  Are  you  under  bonds  ?" 

"  No.  Why  should  I  be  ?  My  name  is  good 
for  all  the  contracts  I  make,  and  my  word  is  as 
good  as  my  bond." 

•'  I'm  glad  of  that.  But  if  you  felt  as  I  do, 
you'd  find  a  way  to  get  released  from  your  con 
tract.  Come  west  and  take  up  some  land.  Mar 
ry  a  good,  sensible  woman,  and  settle  down  to  an 


A  Brother  s  Remonstrance.          165 

honest  life.  You'll  have  to  work  hard  a  few 
years,  but  you  can  do  it  without  hurting  yourself 
or  anybody  else.  You'll  be  a  happier  man  than 
if  you  stay  where  you  are,  making  money  by 
destroying  others.'' 

"  Thank  you,  Brother  George.  It  may  be 
your  plan  is  the  best  one.  But  I  am  committed, 
When  three  years  are  gone  I  may  change.  1 
can't  before." 

"  Then  I've  lost  my  trouble  in  coming.  I'm 
sorrier  than  you  have  any  idea  of.  I  can't  bear 
to  think  of  your  doing  so  much  evil  in  the  world." 

Hermon  Wyatt  gave  no  heed  to  these  last  re 
marks.  He  was  thinking  how  unlike  the  woman 
his  brother  would  consider  good  and  sensible, 
was  she  who  grew  every  day  dearer  to  him.  She 
was  to  him  all  that  was  pure  and  lovely  ;  but 
one  could  not  expect  from  her  much  of  practical 
common  sense.  She  was  too  fair  and  sweet  to 
encounter  the  rough,  every-day  world.  She  must 
be  surrounded  with  luxury  ;  must  wear  soft  rai 
ment,  and  be  served  daintily.  How  would  Milly 
Legrew  exist  as  the  wife  of  a  poor  western  farm 
er  ?  The  very  idea  was  absurd. 


166  All  for  Money. 

"You  are  dreaming,  Hermon." 

"I  was  thinking.  Pardon  my  absent-minded 
ness.  I  am  sorry  to  disappoint  you.  I  appreci 
ate  all  your  motives  in  coming,  and  I  shall  be 
very  happy  to  do  everything  in  my  power  to 
make  your  visit  pleasant  to  you.  If  I  was  a  rich 
man  I  could  act  independently,  and  I  should  talk 
very  differently  from  what  I  have  talked.  But  a 
man  must  appear  as  consistent  as  circumstances 
will  allow,  and  it  would  be  foolish  in  me  to  con 
demn  myself.  I  am  saying  this  to  my  brother  in 
confidence.  You  will  understand  that.  I  had  no 
idea  that  you  were  such  a  zealous  reformer." 

"I  havn't  been  very  zealous  till  within  a  year. 
I  didn't  get  fairly  waked  up  to  the  need  of  reform 
before  then.  I  was  a  teetotaler,  and  trained  my 
boys  to  follow  my  example  ;  but  I  didn't  inter 
fere  with  others,  unless  it  was  to  speak  a  word  of 
warning  sometimes.  About  eighteen  months  ago 
a  man  opened  a  store  in  the  village  nearest  to  us, 
and  among  other  things,  he  sold  whiskey  and 
other  cheap  liquors.  He  had  something,  too,  he 
called  wine  and  brandy.  We'd  been  a  pretty 
sober  community,  but  it  warnt  two  months  after 


A  Brothers  Remonstrance.          167 

that  concern  was  opened  before  there  was  a 
crowd  there  every  evening,  and  in  three  months 
most  of  the  boys  and  young  men  within  six  miles 
had  got  a  taste  for  liquor. 

"  My  boys  were  the  exception,  and  I  don't 
know  but  I  should  let  things  gone  without  trou 
bling  myself  anything  about  them,  if  a  poor 
woman  hadn't  come  to  me  for  help  to  save  her 
only  child.  She  was  a  widow,  and  he  was  all  she 
had.  Her  whole  heart  was  bound  up  in  him,  and 
no  wonder.  He  was  smart  and  handsome,  and 
as  kind  hearted  a  young  fellow  as  ever  lived.  I 
begun  to  look  round  then  and  see  what  was  going 
on,  and  I  stirred  up  the  best  of  our  folks  to  get 
together  and  talk  the  matter  over.  We  did,  men 
and  women,  and  we  made  up  our  minds  to  pro 
hibit  the  sale  of  liquor  in  our  town. 

"  My  oldest  girl  was  all  engaged,  and  she 
offered  to  go  round  with  a  pledge  against  drink 
ing,  or  selling,  or  buying  any  kind  of  goods  of 
anybody  that  did  sell.  'Twas  a  good  square 
pledge,  covering  the  whole  ground.  My  Nell 
is  as  handsome  a  girl  as  you'll  generally  see,  and 
she  can  carry  a  point  anybody  can.  She  went 


i68  All  for  Money. 

through  the  town  faithfully.  She  didn't  slight 
the  rumseller,  but  when  it  come  his  turn  she 
went  into  his  store  and  asked  him  to  sign  her 
pledge.  He  was  a  crusty  old  fellow  at  any 
time,  and  just  then  he  was  pretty  mad  at  the 
way  things  were  going,  so  he  ordered  her  out 
doors. 

"  He  had  two  or  three  customers  he  thought 
would  help  him,  but  instead  of  that  they  took  up 
for  Nell,  and  signed  the  pledge.  That  settled 
the  business.  When  she  got  ready  she  went 
along,  and  it  warn't  but  about  six  weeks  before  our 
storekeeper  left  town.  Now  perhaps  you  think 
we  hadn't  any  right  to  save  our  boys  and  young 
men.  Perhaps  you  think  that  rumseller  had  a 
better  right  to  make  money  out  of  them  than 
we  had  to  make  good  respectable  citizens  of 
them." 

"  I  don't  think  any  such  thing,  Brother  George. 
Public  opinion  was  on  your  side  and  against  the 
storekeeper,  and  public  opinion  should  rule.  If 
nobody  would  buy  of  me  I  should  close  up  my 
store.  To  my  mind  the  responsibility  rests  with 
the  buyers." 


A  Brothers  Remonstrance.          169 

"  Some  of  it  does.  There's  no  denying  that. 
But  there  are  two  parties  to  a  transaction.  You 
say  public  opinion  should  rule." 

"  Yes,  I  believe  in  that ;  and  whenever  you 
zealous  temperance  men  and  women  can  get  a 
majority  of  the  people  on  your  side  you  are  sure 
to  win." 

"  How  is  public  opinion  made,  Hermon  ?  It 
don't  generally  grow  without  cultivation.  You 
rumsellers  are  no  more  willing  to  have  the  ques 
tion  agitated  than  you  are  to  have  it  legislated 
upon  when  the  legislation  goes  against  you.  Let 
a  man  or  a  woman  who  can  talk  so  as  to  reach 
the  hearts  of  people  go  through  the  country 
lecturing,  and  men  of  your  style  will  be  up  in  arms 
about  it.  You  know  that  as  well  as  I  do.  There's 
danger  to  you  in  an  enlightened  public  opinion. 
You  all  pretend  to  believe  in  moral  suasion,  but 
the  truth  is  you  don't  believe  in  anything  but  the 
almighty  dollar.  I  believe  in  moral  suasion  for 
the  drunkard,  and  legal  suasion  for  the  drunkard- 
maker.  If  you  think  the  responsibility  is  all 
with  buyers  you  are  mistaken.  But  you  know 


All  for  Money. 


better  about  that  than  you  talk.  If  he  who  gives 
a  cup  of  cold  water  receives  his  reward  ;  he  who 
puts  the  wine-cup  to  his  neighbor's  lips  shall  also 
be  rewarded  according  to  his  deserts." 


CHAPTER   IX. 


THE   OLD    APPLE    WOMAN. 

T  may  seem  strange  to  my  readers  that 
Mr.  George  Wyatt  should  have  taken  a 
long  journey  when  he  could  illy  afford 
it,  merely  for  the  purpose  of  appealing  to  his 
brother  ;  but  those  who  knew  him  best  would 
not  count  it  a  marvel. 

He  had  just  been  roused  to  something  like  a 
true  appreciation  of  the  evils  of  intemperance 
and  the  need  of  reform.  By  observation  within 
narrow  limits  he  had  learned  that  supply  often 
creates  a  demand  for  the  article  supplied,  and 
that  the  majority  of  drunkards  are  made  such 
by  temptations  which  they  do  not  seek. 

When  he  found  that  one  of  his  family  was 
engaged  in  the  traffic  he  abhorred,  he  fancied  it 
would  be  easy  for  him  to  remove  this  disgrace. 


All  for  Money. 


He  could  not  doubt  that  Hermon  would  listen  to 
reasonable  argument  and  be  convinced  of  wrong 
doing.  But  he  did  not  know  with  whom  he  had 
to  deal.  He  had  not  taken  into  account  the 
overmastering  desire  for  gain.  He  was  sadly 
disappointed,  and  when  morning  dawned  he  had 
no  wish  to  remain  longer  in  the  city. 

"  I'm  so  near,  it's  a  pity  not  to  see  the  girls,  so 
I  think  I'll  make  them  a  little  visit,"  he  said,  after 
announcing  his  intention  of  leaving  in  an  early 
train. 

"  But  you  have  hardly  seen  me  yet.  I  can't 
consent  to  part  with  you  so  soon,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  have  seen  you,  Brother  Hermon.  I  think  I 
am  pretty  well  acquainted  with  you,  and  I  am 
convinced  that  I  can  do  you  no  good.  I  wanted 
to  see  you." 

"  I  am  sorry  your  visit  has  been  such  a  disap 
pointment,  Brother  George.  I  wish  I  could  see 
my  way  clear  to  gratify  you,  but  I  can't.  There 
is  no  need  of  quarrelling,  though,  because  we  can't 
see  things  in  the  same  light.  I  should  be  very 
glad  to  have  you  stop  with  me." 

"  Thank  you,  Hermon,  but  it's  best  for  me  to 


The  Old  Apple  -  Woman. 


go.  Come  out  and  make  us  a  visit  when  you 
can.  I've  got  some  good  children,  and  they're 
as  smart,  too,  as  the  average.  Nell  is  the  queen, 
but  the  others  are  just  as  near  to  me  as  she 
is." 

"  I  showld  like  to  see  your  Nell." 

"  She  would  like  to  see  you.  She  would  talk 
to  you  different  from  what  I  have,  and  if  you 
could  turn  her  off  as  you  have  me  you're  harder 
than  men  she's  used  to  seeing." 

"What  do  you  do  with  such  a  girl  on  the 
prairies  ?" 

"  Do  with  her?  Give  her  the  best  we  can  and 
let  her  manage  herself  pretty  much  for  the  rest. 
She's  a  good  scholar,  and  full  of  music  to  the 
ends  of  her  fingers.  About  four  years  ago,  we 
all  went  to  work  and  bought  a  piano  for  her. 
We  had  to  pinch  some  to  make  out  the  price, 
but  the  boys  said  that  Nell  should  have  a  good 
one.  We  didn't  begrudge  the  work  nor  the 
pinching,  and  we've  got  our  pay  for  it  all  a 
hundred  times  over.  The  piano  didn't  cost  so 
much  either  as  a  great  many  families  drink  up  in 
a  year." 


All  for  Money. 


"  I  presume  not.  I'm  glad  you  have  such  fine 
children." 

"  /  am  thankful  for  them,  and  I  think  I've  a 
right  to  do  what  I  can  to  keep  them  out  of  the 
way  of  temptation." 

"  You  certainly  huve,  George." 

"  Other  parents  have  the  same  right  ;  and  no 
man  has  a  right  to  count  money  of  more  value 
than  human  souls.  God  bless  you,  Brother  Her- 
mon,  and  make  you  to  see  the  evil  of  your  ways. 
Good-bye." 

"  Hands  were  clasped  closely  for  a  moment, 
while  each  looked  into  the  eyes  of  the  other,  and 
thus  they  parted.  Softening  influences  had  done 
their  work  with  one,  while  the  other  yielded  a 
ready  obedience  to  the  spirit  of  worldliness 

Hermon  Wyatt  did  not  throw  off  the  yoke  of 
his  master,  yet  his  obedience  was  less  cheerful, 
He  was  not  turned  from  his  purpose  ;  but  he 
entered  his  store  that  morning  with  a  feeling  of 
aversion  to  everything  connected  with  it.  As 
he  overlooked  the  various  processes  of  business 
he  loathed  the  very  atmosphere  he  was  forced 
to  breathe.  It  was  utterly  distasteful  to  him  ; 


The   Old  Apple  -  Woman.  175 

utterly  unworthy  of  him.  Then  came  back 
thoughts  of  his  contract  and  the  motives  which 
had  prompted  him  to  accept  its  terms. 

"  We're  doing  what  I  call  a  first-class  trade," 
remarked  Mr.  Crown,  the  confidential  clerk. 
"Landers'  never  did  better,  for  all  he  knew  the 
ropes  so  well.  That  last  batch  of  champagne 
Dummer  turned  out  was  a  great  card  for  us. 
Hope  he'll  be  able  to  come  back  for  a  while  be 
fore  he  goes  up.  He  can  match  the  best  of  them 
the  other  side  the  big  pond,  and  the  profits  all 
kept  at  home.  The  lot  you  ordered  will  be  here 
soon  now,  and  there'll  be  a  scramble  for  the 
genuine  article  ;  but  ten  chances  to  one  if 
there's  much  genuine  about  it.  We  must  make 
something  out  of  that  lot." 

The  cargo  of  liquors  came  as  was  expected, 
and  in  broad  daylight  was  transferred  from  the 
hold  of  the  vessel  to  the  spacious  cellars  of 
"  Wyatt  &  Co."  No  need  of  concealment  here. 
The  firm  had  paid  for  a  license,  and  in  point  of 
law  had  even  a  better  right  to  sell  their  stock  in 
trade  than  had  the  woman  shivering  at  the  street 
corner  to  sell  her  apples  and  peanuts. 


/7<5  All  for  Money. 

She  was  poor,  and  wrinkled,  and  old  ;  but  she 
could  remember  when  her  wants  were  lovingly 
supplied  ;  when  her  face  was  the  fairest  among 
her  companions,  and  she  looked  forward  to  a  life 
of  happiness.  From  her  childhood's  home  she 
had  gone  forth  gladly  to  assume  new  responsibili 
ties  without  doubt  or  fear.  How  could  she  dream 
that  he  who  had  wooed  her  so  tenderly,  and  who 
was  dearer  to  her  than  all  the  world  beside,  could 
ever  doom  her  to  wretchedness.  Hers  was  the 
old  story,  told  so  often  that  it  loses  half  its 
horror  for  those  who  hear  it,  yet  never  losing 
aught  of  its  fearful  significance  to  those  whose 
sufferings  are  thus  coined  into  words.  The  syren 
of  the  wine-cup  lured  astray  the  husband,  until 
his  feet  slipped  on  the  dangerous  ground,  and  he 
fell  to  rise  no  more. 

It  was  well,  perhaps,  that  his  ruin  should  be 
sudden  and  complete,  since  his  wife  was  saved 
the  lingering  agony  of  alternate  hopes  and  fears  ; 
but  she  did  not  so  see  it.  In  her  loneliness  and 
poverty  her  heart  cried  out  for  sympathy  and 
comfort,  half  forgetting  that  an  enemy  more 
cruel  than  death  had  robbed  her  of  both.  Aa 


The   Old  Apple  -  Woman. 


she  wrapped  her  scanty  cloak  around  her,  shrink 
ing  from  the  gaze  of  the  passers  by,  she  thought 
had  he  lived,  her  lot  would  have  been  less 
unhappy. 

Not  so.  Winter's  winds  are  pitiless,  but  the 
heart  of  a  drunkard  is  more  pitiless  still.  Hur 
rying  crowds  are  unheeding,  but  the  besotted 
wretch  who  turns  from  all  things  pure  and  holy, 
that  he  may  indulge  his  hellish  appetite,  is  far 
more  unheeding  than  the  veriest  stranger. 

Why  the  handsome  man  who  had  so  often 
passed  without  once  looking  towards  her  should 
stop  and  select  a  rosy  apple,  leaving  twenty 
times  its  value  in  exchange,  the  poor  woman 
could  not  understand.  How  should  she  know 
that  it  was  a  peace-offering  to  his  conscience  ? 
She  had  no  opportunity  to  thank  him,  but  his 
kindness  brightened  all  the  day  for  her,  and  his 
gift  purchased  a  luxurious  supper. 

Not  many  days  after  he  stopped  again,  throw 
ing  down  the  same  amount,  when  she  said,  hur 
riedly  :  "  Please  wait  till  I  give  you  your  change." 

"  I  am  satisfied  with  my  bargain,  and  want  no 
change,"  he  answered. 


178  All  for  Money. 

She  detained  him,  however,  by  grasping  the 
skirt  of  his  coat,  and  looking  up  into  his  face, 
responded  with  quivering  lips  :  "  I  can't  take  it, 
sir.  I  can't  take  it." 

"And  why  not  ?" 

"  Because,  sir,  you  own  the  big  liquor  store  on 
the-  corner  ;  don't  you  ?" 

"That  is  where  I  do  business." 

"I'm  sorry,  sir.  You're  not  the  right  looking 
man  to  sell  liquor.  How  can  you  do  it  ?  If 
somebody  hadn't  sold  it  to  my  husband  I'd  not 
be  sitting  here  to-day.  I  can't  take  any  of  the 
profits  of  such  trade.  Indeed  I  can't,  sir,  poor 
as  I  be." 

He  was  gone,  and  a  child  stood  before  her  who 
wanted  the  very  biggest  apple  in  her  basket  for 
a  sick  mother  ;  and  directly  she  was  saying  : 
Yes,  dear,  you  shall  have  it  and  welcome.  Keep 
your  pennies  to  buy  bread." 

"  How  good  you  are  !"  exclaimed  her  humble 
customer,  hastening  away  ;  leaving  her  to  won 
der  at  her  boldness  in  addressing  Mr.  Wyatt  as 
she  had  done. 

"I  couldn't   help  it  —  I   couldn't  help  it,"  she 


The  Old  Apple  -  Womui. 


murmured.  "  I  couldn't  take  the  price  of  another 
woman's  happiness.  I'd  starve  before  I'd  do  it," 
and  she  shuddered  as  she  remembered  how  near 
this  fate  had  come  to  her. 

"  What  a  nuisance  these  sidewalk  dealers  are  ! 
I  wish  to  mercy  it  was  against  the  law  to  sell 
anything  from  a  basket.  It's  time  such  sales 
were  prohibited.  Somebody  ought  to  petition 
the  legislature  to  abate  this  nuisance.  I  can 
bear  it  in  summer,  but  in  cold  weather  these 
hungry  looking  women  annoy  me  terribly. 
When  they  look  at  me  I  always  feel  as  though 
they  were  blaming  me  for  their  poverty." 

So  the  speaker  did  believe  in  prohibition,  after 
all,  notwithstanding  he  opposed  it  as  unconstitu 
tional  and  tyrannical.  Consistency  was  no  part 
of  his  own  character  or  his  companion's.  They 
talked  loudly  of  justice  and  equal  rights  ;  yet 
denounced  all  who  opposed  them  in  any  of  their 
schemes  ;  and  the  fact  that  they  were  on  their 
way  to  talk  with  Mr.  Wyatt  in  regard  to  matters 
of  common  interest,  betrayed  their  vocation. 

Quick  to  see  where  danger  threatened,  they 
were  anxious  to  bring  to  the  front  one  whose 


i8o  All  for  Money. 

antecedents  and  fine  personal  appearance  would 
command  respect.  There  was  to  be  a  liquor 
dealers'  convention,  and  it  was  necessary  that 
the  craft  should  be  represented  by  its  best  mem 
bers.  All  this  was  frankly  stated  ;  but  to  their 
surprise,  he  whom  they  most  wished  to  influence 
manifested  no  enthusiasm  in  the  cause  they,  ad 
vocated. 

"  Our  business  is  the  most  important  in  the 
country,"  was  said,  at  length.  "  There  is  mor; 
money  invested  in  it  than  in  any  other.  Th-> 
money  paid  for  liquor  every  year  is  millions  more 
than  is  spent  for  flour,  meal,  cotton  and  woollen 
goods,  boots,  shoes,  clothing,  books,  news 
papers  and  job  printing.  According  to  the 
census  of  1860  the  value  of  liquors  which  paid 
duty  and  were  consumed  in  the  country  was 
seven  hundred  and  thirty-nine  millions  of  dollars. 
You  can  see  for  yourself,  Mr.  Wyatt,  setting 
aside  all  selfish  considerations,  that  our  govern 
ment  can  never  afford  to  lose  such  a  revenue." 

"  Then,  as  the  case  is  so  plain,  gentlemen,  I 
don't  see  the  necessity  of  conventions  and 
leagues.  It  seems  to  me  the  government  can  be 


The   Old  Apple  -  Woman.  181 

trusted  to  protect  itself.  I  have  never  thought 
much  about  it,  any  way,  and  can't  reasonably  be 
expected  to  know  the  arguments  for  and  against." 

"  You  must  have  found  out  one  thing  by  this 
time,  Mr.  Wyatt.  Ours  is  a  money-making 
business.  We  can  afford  to  bid  high  for  the 
privilege  of  carrying  it  on.  I  don't  care  much 
what  is  charged  for  a  license.  Anything  but 
prohibition.  That  is  too  arbitrary  to  be  tole 
rated.  A  man  has  a  right  to  choose  his  own 
trade  or  profession,  and  having  chosen  it,  he  has 
a  right  to  protection  in  the  discharge  of  its 
functions." 

"  That  is  true." 

"  Yes,  absolutely  true,  Mr.  Wyatt,"  said  the 
gentleman  who  had  hitherto  been  silent  during 
the  discussion,  but  who  had  expressed  himself  in 
favor  of  prohibition  when  annoyed  by  the  sight 
of  the  poor  apple  woman.  "The  fanatics  admit 
this  to  a  certain  extent  ;  but  they  say  that  every 
owner  of  property  holds  it  under  the  implied  con 
dition  that  its  use  shall  not  work  injury  to  the 
equal  enjoyment  and  safety  of  others  who  have  an 
equal  right  to  the  enjoyment  of  their  property  ; 


182  All  for  Money. 

nor  be  injurious  to  the  community.  I  think  I 
have  quoted  their  very  words,  and  they  quote 
from  the  ruling  of  some  supreme  court.  Now, 
then,  the  question  is,  does  our  trade  work  injury  to 
others  ?  I  say,  when  carried  on  under  proper  re 
strictions,  it  does  not.  I  don't  believe  in  free  rum, 
sold  over  every  counter  ;  and  drunkenness  is  my 
detestation.  But  stimulants  have  their  use,  and 
in  their  way  are  as  necessary  as  food.  I  know 
that  is  denied,  but  the  denial  comes  from  our 
enemies.  They  oppose  us  by  every  argument 
they  can  command." 

"  And  I  suppose  they  have  a  right  to  do  that, 
Mr.  Marston.  Of  course  you  believe  in  fair  play, 
and  as  long  as  we  have  the  law  on  our  side  we 
can  afford  to  let  people  say  what  they  please." 

"  That's  all  very  well,  friend,  but  to  come  down 
to  a  fine  point,  we  can't  afford  to  have  them  stir 
up  such  a  feeling  in  the  community  as  they're 
aiming  at.  A  great  many  will  be  influenced  to 
act  against  us,  and  there's  always  danger  that  we 
may  lose  any  given  election  and  the  law  be 
turned  against  us.  As  long  as  the  license  party 
is  in  power,  we  are  all  right  ;  but  if  it  comes  to 


The  Old  Apple  -  Woman.  183 

prohibition,  as  it  has  in  some  other  States,  we 
shall  be  hard  up.  If  the  fanatics  call  conventions, 
we  must  call  conventions  too.  You  may  depend 
upon  it  they'll  have  telling  speeches  from  the 
smartest  men  and  women  in  their  ranks,  and  we 
must  match  them." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  expect  women 
to  meet  you  in  conventions,  and  speak  in  favor 
of  the  trade  ?"  asked  Mr.  Wyatt. 

"No,  I  don't  expect  it.  I  think  we  men  are 
capable  of  managing  our  business  without  any 
of  their  help.  And  besides,  the  platform-women 
of  the  country  are  all  on  the  other  side.  Perhaps 
it  is  as  well  they  should  be.  I  don't  believe  in 
such  women,  though  they  have  an  influence,  and 
their  number  is  increasing  every  year." 

"  Then,  of  course,  their  influence  is  increasing." 

"  Certainly  it  is,  and  there  is  so  much  the  more 
need  of  combined  action  on  our  part.  I  can't 
afford  to  give  up  my  business.  It's  the  only  de 
partment  of  trade  that  holds  its  own  through  all 
sorts  of  times.  Now,  what  we  want  of  you,  and 
what  your  interests  demand,  is  that  you  take  an 
active  part  in  our  efforts." 


184  All  for  Money. 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Wyatt,  that  is  just  what  we  want," 
chimed  in  another  voice.  "  It  wont  do  to  be 
lukewarm  in  this  matter,  and — we  can  say  it 
among  ourselves — it  wont  do  to  be  over-squeamish 
as  to  the  means  we  use  to  effect  our  purpose.  All 
is  fair  in  love  and  war  ;  and  the  prohibitionists 
have  inaugurated  a  war.  They  mean  business 
too." 

"They  have  some  show  of  reason  on  their  side." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  but  they  have  ;  but  it 
wont  do  to  make  any  such  concession.  We've 
got  to  stand  on  the  defensive,  and  not  yield  an 
inch.  The  question  is,  are  you  ready  to  help  ?  I 
hope  you're  not  ashamed  of  your  business." 

This  last  was  said  a  little  sharply,  and  the  man 
thus  addressed  saw  that  he  was  in  danger  of  los 
ing  the  confidence  of  his  associates.  There  was 
but  one  way  open  to  him. 

"  I  entered  the  business  because  at  the  time  it 
seemed  the  best  thing  I  could  do,  and  I  expect  to 
identify  myself  with  it,"  he  replied.  "  Yet  I  still 
claim  the  right  to  my  own  private  opinion. 
There  are  some  things  connected  with  the  traffic 
that  I  don't  approve." 


7  he  Old  Apple  -  Woman.  185 

"  If  you  come  down  to  the  plain  truth,  I  wonder 
who  does  approve  of  them.  Nobody  pretends 
that  we  are  evangelizing  the  world.  That's  not 
our  trade.  We  are  only  doing  the  best-paying 
business  we  can,  and  leaving  other  people  to  lock 
out  for  themselves." 

"  That  is  true,"  responded  Mr.  Wyatt  quickly. 
"  I  don't  know  as  we  ought  to  be  expected  to 
look  out  for  other  people.  I  shall  be  ready  to  do 
my  part  for  the  protection  of  our  trade.  I  have 
too  much  at  stake  not  to  do  so." 

This  was  true.  When  left  alone  he  consulted 
his  ledger,  as  he  was  accustomed  to  do  whenever 
he  felt  troubled,  and  the  expression  of  annoyance 
faded  from  his  face.  He  was  reassured.  He 
could  afford  to  run  some  moral  risks,  and  these 
risks  did  not  seem  so  momentous  as  they  had 
done  a  few  months  before.  Spring  was  at  hand, 
and  summer  would  come.  This  thought  was 
sufficient  to  inspire  him  with  new  energy. 
i  He  was  no  man's  keeper.  The  right  of  choice 
remained  to  each  one  of  his  customers.  They 
could  come  and  go  at  their  pleasure  without 
restraint  from  him. 


186  All  for  Money. 

He  avoided  passing  the  old  apple-woman's 
stand,  but  he  could  not  avoid  thinking  of  Mr. 
Dummer.  He  wished  to  hear  from  the  sick  man, 
and  in  order  to  do  this  it  was  necessary  that  he 
should  again  visit  Mrs.  Ilsley.  Accordingly,  he 
did  so,  and  somewhat  to  his  surprise  he  was 
welcomed  cordially.  She  could  not  find  it  in  her 
heart  to  condemn  him  with  others  of  his  class  ; 
pleading  as  an  apology  for  her  want  of  severity, 
that  he  was  a  pleasant-spoken  gentleman,  and 
ready  to  do  a  kindness. 

"  Mr.  Dummer  has  been  having  the  hardest 
time,  sir,"  she  said,  in  answer  to  his  question. 
"  The  doctor  says  it's  just  doing  without  liquor, 
and  'twas  the  liquor  that  brought  on  all  the 
trouble,  to  begin  with." 

"  I  hope  he  can  be  persuaded  to  let  it  alone  in 
future." 

"Well,  sure  sir,  it's  kind  in  you  to  say  that, 
and  you  in  the  business.  There's  a  fine  lady 
there  now ;  not  fine  in  silks  and  satins,  but  just 
in  real  goodness.  She's  Mr.  Dummer's  aunt,  and 
she's  come  for  him  to  go  home  with  her.  Lizzie 


The  Old  Apple -Woman.  187 

thinks  she's  almost  an  angel,   and  you  wouldn't 
wonder,  if  you'd  hear  her  talk." 

"  Can  Mr.  Dummer  be  moved  ?" 

"'The  doctor  says  he  may  be  soon,  perhaps,  if 
all  goes  well  with  him,  and  he's  promised  solemn 
to  let  liquor  alone  forever.  His  aunt  will  be  sure 
to  look  close  after  him.  She  lives  on  a  farm,  and 
she  says  there's  room  enough  in  her  house  for 
them  all." 

"  Then  I  hope  he  will  go,  and  the  sooner  the 
better.  Please  tell  him  so  for  me,  Mrs.  Ilsley, 
and  tell  his  daughter  that  I  hope  he  will  live  to 
be  as  good  a  man  as  she  deserves  to  have  for  a 
father.  I  never  wish  to  see  him  in  my  store 
again." 

"Sure,  sir,  I'll  tell  them,  and  they'll  be  that 
glad  to  hear  it.  I  wish  you'd  see  their  aunt,  but 
then  she'd  not  be  particular  what  she  said." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  her,  but  I've  no  time  to 
spend  to-day." 

"You'll  be  seeing  Mr.  Dummer,  I  hope,  sir, 
before  he  goes  ?" 

"I  don't  know.  I  am  interested  for  him  and 
should  be  glad  to  help  him.  1  have  been  trying 


i88  All  for  Money. 

to  think  of  some  country  place  where  he  could 
go,  but  it  seems  he  is  provided  for." 

There  was  one  window  in  the  room  which 
served  as  kitchen,  parlor,  and  dining-room  for 
Mr.  Dummer's  family,  through  which  it  was 
possible  to  see  a  small  section  of  the  street  and 
catch  glimpses  of  the  people  who  were  passing. 
Lizzie  had  been  standing  at  this  window,  think 
ing  so  earnestly  that  she  hardly  noticed  what  was 
transpiring  around  her,  when  she  exclaimed  : 
"  There's  Mr.  Wyatt  ;"  and  bounding  away,  was 
down  the  stairs  and  in  the  street  before  any  one 
could  guess  her  purpose.  There  was  not  a  mo 
ment  to  lose  if  she  would  detain  him. 

"Mr.  Wyatt." 

The  name  was  uttered  softly.  The  gentleman 
turned,  and  with  a  look  of  surprise  responded  : 
"  Miss  Dummer,  what  can  I  do  for  you  ?" 

"  Please  come  and  see  my  father,"  was  her  re 
ply.  "  He  wants  to  see  you,  and  we're  going 
away.  Please  will  you  come  ?" 

He  did  not  wish  to  go,  yet  how  could  he  re 
fuse  such  a  request.  He  allowed  himself  to  be 
guided  across  the  street  ;  up  rickety  stairs,  and 


The   Old  Apple  -  Woman.  189 

through  dark,  narrow  halls,  until  a  door  was 
opened  into  the  cleanest  of  all  clean  rooms. 
Here  sat  Mr.  Dummer,  who  made  an  effort  to 
stand  as  his  employer  entered. 

"  Don't  rise,"  was  said,  hurriedly.  "I  am  glad 
to  see  you  better  than  you  have  been." 

"  Thank  you.  You  have  been  very  kind  to 
me,  and  I  am  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  acknowl 
edge  your  kindness." 

"  I  have  done  no  more  than  was  my  duty.  I 
should  be  glad  to  do  more  for  you." 

Again  the  sick  man  expressed  his  appreciation 
of  the  favors  he  had  received,  and  then  intro 
duced  his  wife  and  his  aunt  to  their  visitor.  It 
needed  no  second  glance  to  see  that  the  daugh 
ter's  dower  of  beauty  was  a  direct  inheritance, 
although  the  mother's  face  was  pale  and  faded. 

Miss  Dummer,  or  Aunt  Lucy,  as  she  was 
addressed  by  the  family,  was  a  woman  who  had 
lived  in  the  world  for  half  a  century  without 
being  soured  by  disappointment  or  disheartened 
by  adversity.  Brothers  and  sisters  were  settled 
in  homes  to  which  she  had  no  claim.  Her 
parents  had  died,  and  she  was  left  alone  in  the 


All  for  Money. 

brown  cottage  where  she  had  first  opened  her 
baby  eyes.  She  looked  about  to  see  how  she 
might  fill  ^the  vacancies  death  had  made  ;  and 
tracing  her  nephew  to  this  city,  had  come  here 
with  the  firm  determination  to  save  him.  He 
had  been  a  favorite  with  her  when  he  was  a  boy, 
and  now  when  even  his  own  mother  had  given 
him  up  as  past  hope,  she  resolved  to  make  one 
last  effort  in  his  behalf. 

She  was  not  one  to  condemn  a  person  as  wholly 
bad,  so  long  as  aught  could  be  said  in  his  favor  ; 
and  notwithstanding  she  was  sternly  severe  in  her 
condemnation  of  the  liquor  traffic,  she  was  ready 
to  believe  that  men  engaged  in  it  might  have 
some  redeeming  qualities.  Her  mantle  of  charity 
was  scant  covering  for  their  sins  ;  yet  she  willingly 
extended  it  to  its  utmost  length  and  breadth. 

She  looked  at  Mr.  Wyatt  with  a  steady  gaze  ; 
scanning  every  liniament  of  his  face,  and  then  said 
frankly  :  *'  I  should  never  take  you  for  a  rum- 
seller.  You  were  made  for  something  better.  I 
told  Joseph  there  must  be  some  good  about  you, 
or  you  wouldn't  give  him  the  money  and  advice 
you  have." 


The  Old  Apple  -Woman. 


"I  hope  there  is  some  good  about  me,"  replied 
the  embarrassed  merchant. 

"I  hope  so  too,  and  I  wish  theie  was  a  ereat 

»  D 

deal  more.     I'm  going  to  take  Joseph  away  into 
the  country,  so  you'll  lose  his  help." 

"  I  am  glad  of  that.  I  never  wish  for  any 
more  of  his  help  until  I  am  in  a  different  busi 
ness." 

"Then  I'll  be  glad  to  come,  Mr.  Wyatt,  if  I'm 
living,"  said  Joseph  Dummer,  heartily  but  sadly. 
"You've  treated  me  well,  but  it  warnt  the  place 
for  me,  though  'twas  all  I  was  fit  for.  I  was 
pretty  near  finished  up  at  Reeves,  and  he  thought 
I  could  help  you  get  started  before  my  breath 
left  my  body.  That's  all  he  cared  for  me.  I 
understood  that.  I've  made  thousands  of  dollars 
for  him,  but  I  might  have  starved  before  he'd 
given  me  a  penny.  He  gives  his  money  where  it 
will  make  a  show,  and  where  his  name  will  get 
in  the  papers.  Pretends  to  be  a  Christian,  but  I 
wouldn't  give  any  more  for  his  chance  up  yonder 
than  I  would  for  my  own.  If  you  was  like  him, 
you  wouldn't  trouble  yourself  about  what  become 
of  me." 


192  All  for  Money. 

"There  was  some  further  conversation,  and 
then  Mr.  Wyatt  bade  them  all  farewell,  hoping 
to  meet  them  again  under  happier  auspices. 

"  Good-bye,  sir,"  said  Miss  Lucy  Dummer, 
adding  seriously  :  "  God  give  you  eyes  to  see 
your  sins,  and  grace  to  repent  of  them.  We 
shall  remember  you  and  pray  for  you." 


CHAPTER  X. 

A   LAUDABLE   INDUSTRY. 

AYS,  weeks,  and  months  went  by.  With 
the  advance  of  spring  had  come  some 
improvement  in  financial  matters,  so 
that  men  took  heart  again  and  applied  themselves 
to  various  departments  of  business  with  renewed 
courage. 

At  the  hotel  table  Hermon  Wyatt  met  an  old 
acquaintance  whom  he  had  not  seen  before  since 
his  failure.  Their  meeting  was  cordial,  and 
when  both  were  at  leisure  they  sat  down  to.  a 
quiet  talk. 

"  How  are  you  doing  now,  Forsyth  ?"  asked  he 
who  assumed  the  office  of  host. 

"  Doing  a  little  more  than  support  my  family," 
was  the  reply.  "  Couldn't  do  that  either  if  my 
wife  wasn't  the  best  manager  in  the  world.  I 


All  for  Money. 


never  expected  it  of  her,  but  I've  found  out  I 
didn't  half  understand  her.  We've  taken  part  of 
a  tenement  and  live  as  happily  as  the  richest 
man  in  the  city." 

"Your  part  of  a  tenement  must  be  spacious  to 
accommodate  the  furniture  that  was  put  into 
your  house  when  you  were  married." 

"  Most  of  that  furniture  was  sold  under  the 
hammer.  We  made  a  terrible  sacrifice  on  it,  but 
'twas  the  best  we  could  do.  We  kept  just 
enough  to  make  our  rooms  habitable  ;  and  since 
then  we've  been  adding  articles  of  home  manu 
facture,  not  so  elegant,  but  quite  as  comfortable. 
When  we  began  to  retrench  I  gave  up  wine  and 
cigars,  and  I'm  as  jolly  a  fellow  without  them  as 
you  can  find  anywhere.  I  remember  you  used  to 
be  a  teetotaler." 

"  Yes,  I  was,  and  I  am  now.  Glad  to  hear 
you've  joined  the  ranks." 

"  It's  something  I'm  more  than  glad  of.  I'm 
thankful.  I'm  beginning  to  think  my  failure  was 
the  best  thing  ever  happened  to  me.  I  got 
credit  after  awhile  and  started  business  in  a  small, 
safe  way,  that  gives  us  a  living,  and  that's  all  a 


A  Laudable  Industry. 


man  ought  to  expect  these  hard  times.  Now, 
how  is  it  with  you,  Wyatt  ?  I  didn't  quite  believe 
it  when  I  heard  you  were  in  the  liquor  trade. 
Excuse  me,  but  you  are  the  very  last  man  I  should 
have  expected  to  hear  such  a  report  of." 

People  always  would  say  something  like  this  to 
Mr.  Wyatt,  until  he  fancied  he  should  be  glad 
never  to  see  another  person  who  had  known  him 
previous  to  his  failure.  His  companion  waited 
for  him  to  speak  ;  and  because  he  could  not  avoid 
it  he  explained  the  circumstances  which  had  de 
cided  him  in  a  choice  of  business. 

"  You  are  protected  by  law  in  this  State," 
remarked  Mr.  Forsyth. 

"  Yes,  I  have  a  license,  and  I  don't  know  why 
I  need  have  any  scruples  about  a  trade  that  is 
indorsed  by  the  government." 

"  There's  a  good  deal  in  that,  Wyatt,  but  since 
I've  joined  the  teetotalers  I'm  a  convert  to  pro 
hibition.  The  expense  of  drinking  liquor  and  the 
misery  it,  causes  would  justify  the  most  arbitrary 
measures  for  its  suppression.  I  called  myself  a 
very  moderate  drinker,  and  I  don't  think  any  one 
of  my  friends  ever  thought  of  me  as  being  worse 


1 96  All  for  Money. 

than  that  ;  but  it  is  true  that  we  have  lived  some 
weeks  on  less  money  than  I  used  to  spend  in  the 
same  time  for  liquor  and  cigars." 

"  That  may  be,  but  you  were  never  obliged  to 
spend  your  money  in  that  way.  There  are  now  as 
many  places  where  you  can  buy  liquors  and  cigars 
as  there  were  then,  and  you  could  do  as  you 
please  about  patronizing  them  then,  the  same  as 
you  can  now." 

"  I  understand  your  argument,  and  your  state 
ment  is  undeniably  true.  But  it's  not  every  man 
who  can  exercise  his  free  will  as  I  did.  There 
are  thousands  of  poor  fellows  so  far  gone  that  the 
very  thought  of  liquor  drives  them  nearly  crazy 
with  longing  for  it.  It  was  a  hard  case  for  me  to 
give  it  up,  myself,  and  to-day  I  can't  see  a  glass 
of  wine  poured  out  without  an  impulse  to  seize 
it.  You  can't  understand  this,  Wyatt.  No  one 
can  who  has  never  acquired  an  appetite  for  such 
stimulants.  It's  a  miserable  thing  to  do  ;  a 
miserable  thing  ;  and  all  you  or  any  other 
man  whose  money  interests  are  concerned  can 
say,  your  craft  pander  to  an  appetite  which, 
to  state  it  moderately,  brings  ruin  more  or 


A  Laudable  Industry. 

less  complete  to  one-half  its  possessors.  I  wish  I 
could  make  you  see  these  things  as  I  do." 

"If  I  did  I  should  be  no  happier  man  than  I  am 
now.  I  am  under  contract,  and  must  serve  my 
time."  This  was  said  with  a  sorry  attempt  at 
pleasantry;  the  speaker  adding  :  "If  my  business 
is  an  evil,  I  must  insist  that  it  is  not  an  unmiti 
gated  evil.  It  brings  an  enormous  revenue  to 
the  government  and  gives  employment  to  quite 
an  army  of  men.  There's  money  in  it  in  more 
ways  than  one." 

"There's  money  in  it  for  the  manufacturer  and 
the  seller,  with  death  for  the  consumer  and 
shame  for  our  government.  I  suppose  that 
sounds  harsh  to  you,  Wyatt,  and  it  wouldn't  be 
strange  if  you  should  think  I  had  lost  my  courtesy 
with  my  property.  If  you  choose,  you  can  tell 
me  that  I  am  trespassing  on  your  private 
domains." 

"I  don't  choose  to  tell  you  that,  and  I  don't 
know  why  I  should,"  was  the  hesitating  reply. 
"A  business  sustained  by  government  ought  to 
stand  upon  its  own  merits.  I  am  surprised  to 
find  you  so  ultra  in  your  opinions,  but  I  suppose 


All  for  Money. 


it  is  to  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  new  con 
verts  are  al  \vays  zealous.  I  shall  take  no  offence 
at  what  you  say,  and  if  you  get  the  best  of  the 
argument  I'll  not  deny  it,  although  I  may  still 
maintain  my  right  to  act  in  accordance  with  my 
judgment." 

"  Certainly.  I  am  not  the  keeper  of  your  con 
science,  neither  can  I  give  account  for  you  in  the 
day  of  judgment.  You  must  act  as  you  please 
and  bear  the  responsibility  for  yourself.  But 
have  you  ever  examined  the  statistics  of  the 
country  with  reference  to  the  cost  and  expend 
iture  for  liquor  ?" 

"  No,  I  never  have,  Forsyth.  The  truth  is  that 
up  to  the  time  of  my  going  into  the  business  I 
never  thought  much  about  it  ;  and  since  then 
I  have  had  no  inclination  to  trouble  myself 
with  an  array  of  figures  that  don't  concern 
me." 

"  They  do  concern  you.  They  concern  every 
man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  country.  The 
welfare  of  the  humblest  individual  is  affected  by 
the  facts  they  represent.  I  want  to  ask  you  a 
question,  and  I  know  you  will  answer  it  honestly. 


A  Laudable  Industry. 

Do  you  consider  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors 
beneficial  ?" 

("No,  Forsyth,  I  do  not.  I  never  used  them." 
"One  might  know  that  by  your  splendid 
physique.  There's  not  a  mark  of  it  from  your 
head  to  your  feet.  That's  a  compliment,  Wyatt, 
but  it  came  spontaneously.  I  had  no  thought 
of  it.  Now  let  us  go  back  to  the  question.  If 
the  use  of  liquor  is  not  beneficial  it  must  be  inju 
rious.  Such  an  enormous  quantity  can't  be 
consumed  without  producing  some  effect.  You 
will  admit  that  ?" 

"  Of  course  I  will.  I'm  not  so  stupid  as  to 
deny  self-evident  facts." 

"I  knew  you  were  too  sensible  to  do  it,  but 
there  are  some  who  deny  everything  which  can 
possibly  tell  against  them." 

"They  feel  obliged  to  do  it  in  self-defence, 
Forsyth.  Some  of  the  leader=  of  the  crusade 
against  liquor  make  the  most  extravagant  state 
ments,  and  I  suppose  they  think  the  good  of  the 
cause  demands  it." 

"  They  think  it  demands  that  the  truth  should 
be  spoken.  At  first  sight  it  seems  as  though 


2oo  All  for  Money. 

their  startling  statements  must  be  false,  but  I  am 
beginning  to  think  that  it  is  impossible  to  over 
estimate  the  evils  of  which  liquor  is  the  cause. 
It  costs  the  country  over  six  hundred  millions  of 
dollars  every  year  ;  and  if  nobody  is  benefitted, 
there  is,  at  least,  an  enormous  waste  no  country 
on  earth  can  afford." 

"Are  you  sure  of  what  you  say?"  asked  Her- 
mon  Wyatt,  looking  fixedly  at  his  companion. 

"  Figures  never  lie,  and  the  statistics  I  am 
quoting  have  been  gathered  from  the  most 
reliable  sources.  I  can  give  you  my  authorities." 

"  No  matter  about  it.  I  presume  you  are  cor 
rect." 

"  I  know  I  am,  and  the  estimate  is  less  than 
the  truth.  The  whole  number  of  dram  shops  is 
reckoned  at  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand.  It 
will  require  at  least  five  hundred  thousand  men 
to  take  charge  of  them,  and  five  hundred  dollars 
would  be  a  very  moderate  salary  for  each  man. 
But  to  pay  them  that,  two  hundred  and  fifty  mil 
lion  dollars  would  be  expended.  Then  the  grain, 
fruit,  and  molasses  destroyed  by  being  made  into 
alcohol  must  be  set  down  at  fifty  millions  of  dol- 


A  Laudable  Industry.  201 

lars.  Now  if  all  this  money  was  invested  in  some 
pursuit  which  would  benefit  the  country,  think 
how  much  more  prosperous  we  should  be.  If  all 
these  men  were  at  work  in  some  useful  calling, 
think  how  much  they  might  accomplish  for  them 
selves  and  the  world.  If  all  the  grain,  fruit  and 
molasses  were  distributed  among  the  poor  of  our 
land,  how  much  comfort  they  would  give.  You 
can  see  all  that." 

"  Yes,  I  can"  ;  and  for  the  moment  the  speaker 
forgot  that  he  was  engaged  in  the  unholy  traffic. 

"But  bad  as  is  the  story  my  figures  have  told, 
the  end  is  not  yet.  Everybody  knows  that  the  ex 
cessive  use  of  intoxicating  liquor  makes  a  brute 
of  a  man  and  disposes  him  to  commit  the  most 
terrible  crimes.  No  man  is  wholly  given  over  to 
evil  unless  he  is  under  the  influence  of  some  alco 
holic  stimulant.  That  is  what  fills  our  states 
prisons,  jails  and  poor-houses.  It  is  what  makes 
husbands  murder  their  wives  by  inches,  if  not  by 
a  single  blow  of  the  knife.  It  makes  fathers  leave 
their  children  to  starve,  and  fills  our  land  with 
the  wailing  of  breaking  hearts." 

"  Well,  Forsyth,  I  must  say  that  you  have  a 


202  All  for  Money. 

gift  for  talking  I  never  dreamed  you  possessed. 
You  would  make  an  eloquent  advocate  of  teeto 
tal  temperance." 

"  I  try  to  advocate  that  cause.  But  when  I 
am  most  anxious  to  influence  my  audience  I  find 
that  I  fail  altogether.  So  long  as  the  law  sus 
tains  men  in  selling  the  poison,  just  so  long  it 
will  be  sold." 

"  Probably  it  will  be.  A  trade  that  is  legal  is 
very  likely  to  be  pursued  ;  especially  when  it  is 
lucrative." 

"  That  is  just  the  point,  Wyatt.  The  govern 
ment  must  prohibit  it  and  make  it  illegitimate. 
That  is  why  I  believe  in  prohibition  and  intend 
to  work  for  it.  Government  has  a  right  to  pro 
hibit  it.  There's  not  a  shadow  of  doubt  about 
that  ;  and  having  the  right,  it  is  under  the  most 
solemn  obligations  to  exercise  it.  The  assertion 
that  this  would  be  arbitrary  and  unjust  is  dis 
proved  by  those  who  claim  that  government  can 
rightfully  restrict  the  sale  ;  making  it  a  crime  to 
sell  without  license.  Alcoholic  liquors  should 
be  made  contraband,  except  when  used  for  me- 


A  Laudable  Industry.  203 

dicinal  or  art  purposes  ;  and  every  year  our  best 
physicians  are  using  them  less." 

"  Well,  Forsyth,  suppose  I  should  agree  with 
you,  and  acknowledge  the  whole  thing  to 
be  as  bad  as  you  have  represented.  What 
then  ?'' 

"Then,  if  you  are  the  man  I  take  you  for,  you 
would  never  sell  another  drop  of  the  stuff  while 
you  live." 

"  Suppose  I  shouldn't  sell  another  drop.  What 
would  be  gained  ?" 

"The  approval  of  your  own  conscience." 

"  Possibly.  But  you  were  considering  it  in 
relation  to  others.  What  other  gain  would  there 
be  ?" 

"  There  might  be  one  less  engaged  in  the 
wretched  business." 

"  That  would  make  small  difference  with  five 
hundred  thousand,  and  it  is  more  than  doubtful 
if  there  would  be  that.  As  I  look  at  it,  there  is 
only  one  question  for  me  to  decide.  Shall  I  take 
a  share  of  the  profits  of  this  trade,  or  shall  some 
other  man  take  it  and  make  no  better  use  of  the 
money  than  I  should  ?  Then,  as  I  told  you,  this 


2OJ.  All  for  Money. 

was  the  only  thing  that  offered,  and  I  couldn't 
afford  to  remain  idle." 

"  You  and  I  were  both  brought  up  in  the 
country,  Wyatt.  We  know  how  to  work  on  a 
farm,  and  I  made  up  my  mind  to  go  to  work  as  I 
did  when  I  was  a  boy,  if  nothing  better  offered." 
"  I  might  have  done  that,  Forsyth,  but  I  got 
enough  of  farm-work  before  I  was  twenty-one.  I 
want  to  make  money  faster  than  I  can  by  raising 
corn  and  potatoes." 

"I  don't- blame  you  for  that.  I  like  to  get 
well  paid  for  my  work." 

"  So  does  every  man,  and  he's  not  to  blame  for 
it  either.  You've  talked  very  plainly  to  me  and 
I  don't  blame  you  for  it.  Now  I'm  going  to  take 
the  liberty  to  give  you  some  advice.  If  I  was 
engaged  in  the  reform  you  urge  so  zealously,  I 
should  appeal  to  the  drinkers  of  liquor,  and  that 
is  what  I  advise  you  to  do.  You  can  make  a 
strong  case  against  them,  and  it  seems  to  me 
there's  the  very  place  for  you  to  begin.  Moral 
suasion  is  the  best  of  suasions,  and  when  a  drun 
kard  is  sober  he  knows  he  is  the  most  miserable 
creature  in  the  world.  His  whole  material  inte- 


A  Laudable  Industry.  205 

rest  is  on  your  side,  and  there  is  everything-  for  him 
to  gain  by  abandoning  his  cups." 

"  True,  every  word  of  that,  Wyatt,  but  it  deals 
with  only  one  side  of  the  question.  Moral  sua 
sion  is  good  so  far  as  it  goes,  but  there  are  those 
who  are  not  touched  by  it.  So  I  say  moral  sua 
sion  for  the  drunkard,  and  legal  suasion  for  the 
drunkard-maker.  Your  material  interests  are  all 
on  the  side  of  wrong.  You  have  acknowledged 
that  ;  and  money  is  often  a  too  powerful  argu 
ment  for  mere  words  to  combat.  If  a  victory  is 
to  be  achieved  we  must  use  all  the  weapons  at 
our  command." 

"  Then  you  have  faith  that  you  shall  achieve  a 
victory." 

"  As  truly  as  I  believe  our  nation  shall  endure. 
We  shall  be  ruined  unless  temperance  and  sobri 
ety  gain  the  ascendancy.  Intemperance  is  the 
curse  of  the  land.  The  entire  population  is  taxed 
to  meet  the  expense  of  crime  and  pauperism  in 
duced  by  it.  You  know  that  as  well  as  I  do." 

"I  have  denied  none  of  your  statements,  For- 
syth  ;  I  have  allowed  you  to  say  your  say."  It 
was  evident,  however,  that  he  who  had  listened 


206  All  for  Money. 

with  something  of  grace  and  patience  was  now 
strongly  tempted  to  decline  hearing  further  of 
this  matter. 

'  •  1  know  you  have,"  was  replied  good  naturedly, 
'•  but  I  can't  flatter  myself  that  I  have  influenced 
you  in  the  least." 

"  You  have  told  me  some  things  I  shall  be  sure 
to  remember  ;  some,  too,  I  didn't  know  before." 

"  But  I  have  not  told  you  the  worst.  The 
darkest  side  of  the  picture  has  been  turned  away 
from  you.  Desolated  homes  and  broken  vows — " 

"I  know  all  about  that,"  exclaimed  Hermon 
Wyatt  impatiently,  interrupting  his  friend. 
"Everybody  knows  that  a  drunkard  is  a  perjured 
wretch.  There's  no  use  in  talking  about  it." 

"  But  just  now  you  advised  me  to  appeal  to 
drunkards,  and  told  me  I  could  make  a  strong 
case  against  them  ;  and  thinking  of  that  reminded 
me  of  the  wretchedness  they  bring  to  others." 

"  But  I  am  not  one  of  that  class.  Pardon  me, 
Forsyth,  but  you  are  wasting  your  words.  They 
will  produce  no  effect,  so  far  as  my  life  is  con 
cerned." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that.     I  always  thought  of  you 


A  Laudable  Industry.  207 

as  a  man  of  eminent  practical  sense,  and  such 
men  are  open  to  conviction.  If  they  can  be  made 
to  see  that  they  have  been  mistaken  they  are 
glad  to  retrieve  their  error.  You  have  made  a 
mistake." 

"  That  remains  to  be  proved.  If  I  accomplish 
my  purpose,  that  is  all  I  expect." 

"  You  may  do  that.  It  is  easy  to  make  money 
in  your  business.  I  used  to  consider  myself  a 
pretty  good  judge  of  wines,  but  I  presume  I  often 
paid  a  high  price  for  what  cost  the  merchant  not 
a  hundredth  part  of  what  I  paid  him.  I  am  not 
absolutely  certain  of  this,  and  I  am  not  going  to 
ask  for  any  confession  on  your  part.  But  it  is 
well  known  that  liquors  are  adulterated  to  such 
an  extent  that  they  are  really  and  truly  poison. 
Of  course,  I  understand  that  is  how  the  enormous 
profits  are  made,  and  I  don't  wonder  that  a  dealer 
in  liquor  gets  to  feel  that  it  makes  no  difference 
'what  he  sells  if  his  customers  are  only  satisfied. 
But  they  can't  claim  the  protection  of  law  yi 
doing  that.  A  man  isn't  licensed  to  sell  a  de 
coction  of  logwood,  alum,  lead,  sulphuric,  prussic 
and  other  acids,  with  a  host  of  other  ingredients. 


208  All  for  Money. 

Queer  grapes  are  the  copperas  stones  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  port  wine." 

•'You  seem  to  be  well  posted  in  what  outsiders 
call  the  tricks  of  the  trade,  Forsyth.  I  wonder 
how  you  learned  so  much  ?" 

"  I've  been  spying  out  the  enemy's  country ; 
making  a  study  of  its  weak  points,  so  I  shall  know 
where  to  direct  my  batteries.  Whatever  may 
be  said  of  the  right  to  sell  pure  alcoholic  liquors, 
no  man  dares  to  claim  the  right  to  sell  a  solution 
of  mineral  poisons  as  a  health-giving  beverage. 
Government  prohibits  this,  although  the  law 
against  it  is  little  more  than  a  dead  letter. 
Everybody  knows  such  things  are  done  ;  but 
the  free  masonry  of  the  trade,  and  the  money 
spent  for  its  protection  cover  up  the  frauds. 
I  don't  expect  you  to  criminate  yourself,  but 
you've  been  initiated  into  the  mysteries  before 
now." 

No  response  was  made  to  this  assertion,  and 
for  a  time  not  a  word  was  spoken.  At  length 
Mr.  Forsyth  said  :  "  If  you  are  angry  with  me  I 
can't  blame  you.  I  had  no  intention  of  holding 
forth  in  this  strain,  but  I  am  so  full  of  my  mission 


A  Laudable  Industry.  209 

I  forget  to  temper   zeal  with  prudence.     I  owe 
you  an  apology." 

"  I  wish  for  no  apology  from  you,"  was  replied 
with  an  effort  to  speak  cordially.  "  I  like  to  see 
a  man  in  earnest  in  whatever  he  undertakes.  I 
respect  any  man  who  tries  to  do  his  best,  even 
if  his  efforts  are  misdirected.  When  I  have 
committed  myself  to  a  certain  course  of  action 
I  feel  bound  to  persevere  at  all  hazards.  That  is 
my  present  position,  Forsyth.  I  make  no  excu 
ses,  and  offer  no  plea  for  my  justification.  I  am 
simply  doing  what  I  have  decided  to  do,  and  I 
see  no  good  reason  for  changing  my  decision." 

"  I  understand  that.  You  have  spoken  plainly, 
and  I  have  no  wish  to  make  myself  obnoxious  to 
you.  Still  I  wish  to  ask  you  one  more  question 
pertaining  to  a  general  principle.  Don't  you 
consider  that  the  different  States  have  a  right  to 
prohibit  the  sale  of  liquors  within  their  pre 
cincts  ?" 

"  Certainly  I  do.  It  would  be  sheer  folly  in 
me  to  pretend  otherwise.  License  men  know 
that,  and  act  with  reference  to  it.  It's  not  a 
question  of  right,  but  of  self-interest.  It  would 


21 o  All  for  Money. 

be  considered  treason  in  certain  quarters  for  me 
to  say  that,  but  it  is  true." 

"  It  is  true  ;  and  I  thank  you  for  acknowledg 
ing  it.  If  we  can't  act  alike  in  this  matter,  it 
gratifies  me  to  know  that  we  think  alike." 

"  Possibly  we  do  think  alike,"  answered  Her- 
mon  Wyatt,  yet  none  the  less  was  he  resolved 
to  make  haste  to  be  rich. 

Had  a  fortune  come  into  his  possession  by  in 
heritance,  he  would  have  torn  down  the  sign 
upon  which  his  name  was  blazoned  before  the 
rising  of  another  sun.  He  could  have  talked 
even  more  eloquently  than  Mr.  Forsyth  of  the 
abominations  committed  under  sanction  of  law. 
The  half  had  not  been  told. 

Illicit  stills  in  mountain  fastnesses,  and  deep, 
damp  cellars  defraud  the  government  of  its  dues 
in  dollars  and  cents.  Distilleries  and  licensed 
liquor  establishments  rob  the  country  of  its 
choicest  possessions — the  health,  happiness  and 
virtue  of  its  inhabitants,  and  there  are  few  to 
sound  the  note  of  alarm.  It  is  not  that  men 
hate  their  fellows,  and  therefore  seek  to  drag 
them  down  to  the  lowest  depths  of  sin  and  mis- 


A  Laudable  Industry.  211 

ery ;  but  that  every  noble,  loving  instinct  is 
overpowered  by  an  inordinate  greed  of  gain. 
They  cannot  serve  God  and  mammon,  and  for 
the  service  of  the  latter  they  are  repaid  in  glit 
tering  coin  whose  baseness  they  fail  to  recog 
nize. 


CHAPTER  XL 

POOR   PAT. 

AT  McQUADE,  occupying  a  back-room 
on  the  ground-floor  of  a  large  tenement 
house,  was  suspected  of  selling  liquor, 
and  a  watch  was  kept  upon  his  movements  until 
the  officer  was  sure  of  him. 

Tin  cups  and  battered  pails,  bottles,  and  cracked 
cups  of  the  coarsest  earthernware  had  been 
carried  carelessly  through  the  filthy  alley  and 
then  brought  out  carefully,  as  though  they  con 
tained  the  very  elixir  of  life.  Some  of  these  cups 
being  seized,  they  were  found  filled  with  what  in 
common  cellar-parlance  is  styled  rotgut  whiskey; 
a  compound  so  abominable  that  only  the  poorest 
will  purchase  it  ;  and  tolerated  by  them  for  no 
other  reason  than  that  they  must  have  some 
stimulant,  and  this  is  all  they  have  the  means  to 
procure. 


Poor  Pat.  213 

It  is  sharp  and  pungent,  giving  them  a  sensa 
tion  of  warmth,  and  if  by  any  good  fortune  they 
can  secure  a  sufficient  quantity,  rendering  them 
insensible  to  their  surroundings.  Fastidious 
wine-drinkers  exhaust  themselves  in  denouncing 
the  villanous  stuff;  but  there  are  many  now  drink 
ing  it  eagerly  who  once  sipped  sparkling  cham 
pagne  with  the  best. 

Poor  Pat  !  He  was  out  of  work,  and  he  had  a 
family  dependent  upon  him.  He  was  willing  to 
perform  the  most  menial  labor  and  accept  the 
smallest  wages.  But  day  after  day  he  returned 
empty-handed  to  his  poor  home  ;  finding  his  only 
solace  in  smoking  whenever  he  chanced  upon  a 
bit  of  tobacco  thrown  aside  by  one  more  affluent 
than  himself.  Hard  times  for  such  as  he. 

One  morning  he  was  surprised  by  the  sight  of 
a  face  familiar  to  him  in  the  old  country,  and  upon 
comparing  notes  with  his  humble  friend,  learned 
how  money  could  be  made  without  working  for  it. 
A  keg  of  whiskey  was  equivalent  to  a  mine  of 
wealth.  So  he  was  told,  and  forthwith  taught 
the  process  of  cheap  adulteration.  The  sample 
submitted  to  his  taste  was  quite  as  good  as  he 


214  All  for  Money. 

had  bought  of  others  when  he  had  been  able  to 
pay  for  "  a  dhrap." 

To  start  in  business  required  but  a  small  out 
lay,  which  unfortunately  he  was  able  to  make. 
His  profits  were  large  upon  a  small  scale  ;  and 
but  for  the  fact  that  he  was  too  good  a  customer 
at  his  own  bar — which  bar  consisted  of  a  rough 
board  supported  by  two  barrels — his  family  might 
have  lived  in  comparative  comfort. 

His  prosperity  was  of  short  duration.  He  had 
not  paid  for  the  privilege  of  doctoring  and  selling 
his  whiskey,  and  it  would  never  do  to  allow  such 
a  crime  to  go  unpunished. 

"  Be  jabbers,  what's  that  ye're  afther  sayin'  ?" 
exclaimed  the  Irishman,  when  told  that  he  was 
under  arrest. 

A  short  explanation  sufficed  to  enlighten  him 
upon  this  point,  and  then  his  indignation  was 
poured  forth  in  a  torrent  of  words  well  nigh  over 
powering. 

"  Sure,  whuskey's  as  frae  as  wather  in  the  strates 
if  you've  but  the  money  to  pay.  Ye  know  that 
yerself,  sir,  and  I'm  not  dootin' ye're  afther  drink- 
in'  it.  License,  is  it,  ye  talk  aboot !  What  sort  of 


Poor  Pat. 


a  crathur  might  that  be  ?  I'm  jist  doin'  a  bit  of 
thradin'  in  rne  own  house  ;  an'  what  right  have  the 
likes  uv  ye  to  be  interfarin'r  I'm  an  honest  lad, 
jist  thryin'  to  git  a  sup  for  me  family.  There's 
niver  sich  another  counthry.  It's  all  chate  and 
hoombug.  Wa'nt  I  tould  the  puir  had  their  rights 
the  same  as  the  rich  uns,  an'  niver  a  word  of  truth 
til  the  story.  Sorra  the  day  I  iver  left  me  own 
tourf  cabin  beside  the  bog,  and  firm'  for  the  cootin. 
Be  ye  afthar  pickin'  up  the  jintlemen  that  sells 
whuskey  and  wine,  and  sich  like  ?" 

"  We  don't  arrest  any  who  have  a  license  for 
selling." 

"  Wall,  it's  quare  now,  and  I  can't  onderstand 
it  at  all,  at  all.  It's  worse  than  the  ould  counthry, 
onless  may  be  it's  the  same  that  lords  can  shoot 
and  poor  uns  can't." 

These  few  sentences  will  give  my  readers  an 
idea  of  the  Irishman's  sense  of  injustice  ;  and  as 
no  more  than  these  were  understood  by  the  officer 
to  whom  they  were  addressed,  I  may  be  pardoned 
for  making  no  fuller  report. 

His  stock  of  liquor  was  at  this  time  very  low  ; 
so  there  was  really  but  small  loss  from  the  de- 


216  All  for  Money. 

struction  which  seemed  to  those  who  witnessed  it 
to  be  so  unnecessary.  In  his  harangue  Pat  more 
than  once  referred  to  the  corner  store  where  the 
liquor  was  "  poured  out  in  a  big  strame,  an'  niver 
a  dam  to  hould  it  back."  It  was  impossible  for 
him  to  comprehend  why  he  should  be  called  a 
criminal,  while  others,  who  he  claimed  were 
engaged  in  the  same  business  as  himself,  should 
be  treated  like  gentlemen.  He  was  "  selling  on 
the  sly  ;"  but  if  he  could  afford  it  he  would  have  a 
"  big  place  and  a  painted  sign.  He'd  not  be 
stay  in'  for  choice  in  a  back  room  with  only  a 
passage  for  his  store.  Wouldn't  he  like  things 
foin  and  convanient  ?  Sure  he  was  the  bye  that 
would.  And  what  would  Kathleen  an'  the  chil- 
ders  do  without  him  ?" 

Finding  that  his  angry  appeals  and  denuncia 
tions  effected  nothing,  he  was  convulsed  with  fear. 
A  prison  seemed  to  him  more  dreadful  than  a 
tomb.  Tears  streamed  down  his  cheeks,  and  his 
lamentations  were  most  piteous.  Even  when 
brought  into  court  it  was  impossible  to  silence 
him.  He  told  his  story  over  and  over  until 
something  like  pity  moved  the  heart  of  a  man 


Poor  Pat. 


whose  clemency  was  usually  purchased  with 
heavy  bribes. 

"  Might  have  sent  the  poor  fellow  up  for  a  term, 
but  what  would  be  gained  by  it  ?"  he  said,  as  he 
half  apologized  for  letting  such  an  offender  go 
free.  "  No  money  to  be  got  out  of  him  ;  and  if 
there  was,  the  city  would  be  obliged  to  more  than 
pay  it  back  to  his  family.  We've  got  enough  like 
him  locked  up." 

"  But  the  dignity  of  the  law  must  be  main 
tained,  judge.  You  know  that,"  responded  one 
of  the  bystanders,  whose  face  betrayed  his  drink 
ing  habits,  and  who  was  able  to  pay  the  price  of 
self-indulgence. 

Pat  McQuade  went  home,  too  happy  at  having 
escaped  from  the  clutches  of  the  officer  to  be 
anxious  as  to  the  future,  and  firmly  resolved  to 
"  lave  whuskey  alone,  either  for  sellin'  or  drink- 
in'."  Yet  he  was  no  less  indignant  than  before  his 
acquittal  ;  and  late  that  evening  gave  vent  to  his 
anger  by  shaking  his  fist  at  the  big  corner  store, 
and  mentally  anathematizing  the  man  whose 
name  he  had  often  read  upon  the  conspicuous 
sign.  His  mutterings  were  more  emphatic  than 


2i8  All  for  Money. 

polite  ;  but  had  they  been  overheard  by  Mr.  For- 
syth  I  am  quite  certain  that  gentleman  would 
have  endorsed  poor  Pat's  conclusions  as  to  the 
fitness  of  things. 

"  It's  all  the  money  makes  the  differ.  If  ye've 
got  it  ye're  all  right,  and  if  ye  haint  got  it  ye're 
all  wrong.  I'm  thinkin'  that's  the  way  in  Amer- 
iky,  same  as  the  ould  counthry ;"  and  with  this 
consolatory  thought  he  turned  away. 

"With  money,  all  right;  without  money,  all 
wrong." 

Strange  that  there  should  have  been  any  bond 
of  sympathy  between  two  so  utterly  unlike,  but 
Hermon  Wyatt  was  thinking  the  same  thing  that 
evening  ;  and  it  was  this  thought  which  helped 
him  to  stifle  the  good  impulses  awakened  by  the 
remonstrances  of  his  friend. 

It  was  easier  to  do  this  now  than  at  any  previ 
ous  time.  He  was  quoted  as  the  best  man  in  the 
trade,  upright  and  honorable  ;  so  that  he  was 
universally  trusted.  Landers  was  a  model  in  his 
way,  but  Landers' successor  would  have  acquitted 
himself  well  under  any  circumstances.  His  em 
ployees  wondered  at  his  watchfulness  and  care  ; 


Poor  Pat. 


219 


fearing  to  offend  him  and  yet  sure  of  just  appre 
ciation.  He  was  always  on  the  alert.  He  had 
not  only  learned  "  the  secrets  of  the  trade,"  as 
this  term  is  generally  understood,  but  had  ac 
quired  such  a  general  knowledge  of  the  business  as 
enabled  him  to  take  full  advantage  of  the  market. 

He  was  no  longer  an  absolutely  poor  man.  In 
a  year  he  might  safely  count  upon  being  able  to 
marry  and  support  a  wife  in  good  style.  At 
this  point  he  assured  himself  that  he  was  pros 
perous  and  happy.  Mr.  Harvey  congratulated 
him  warmly,  and  when  the  heat  of  summer  sent 
many  from  the  city,  he  was'  welcomed  to  the 
country  home  of  his  partner. 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  Cousin  Wyatt  ;  very  glad  to 
see  you,"  was  the  cordial  greeting  he  received 
from  his  host. 

"  Indeed  we  are  very  glad  to  see  you,"  said 
Mrs.  Harvey,  beaming  upon  him  with  her  most 
gracious  smile.  "  Now,  Milly  and  I  shall  have 
the  delightful  drives  we  have  been  anticipating. 
Don't  fear,  though,  that  I  shall  play  the  part  of 
Madame  de  trap.  I  am  too  proud  and  too  kind 
for  that,"  she  added,  laughingly. 


22O  All  for  Mousy. 

At  that  moment  Milly  entered  the  room, 
dressed  simply  and  becomingly ;  meeting  the 
visitor  with  a  frank  expression  of  pleasure  which 
might  or  might  not  be  mere  conventional  civil- 
ity. 

11  Well,  Cousin  Wyatt,  you  are  getting  to  be 
a  prosperous  man,"  remarked  Mr.  Harvey,  when 
the  two  gentlemen  found  an  opportunity  to  talk 
of  business. 

"  Yes,  thanks  to  you,  I  am,"  was  the  reply. 
"No   thanks.      You    have   benefitted    me   as 
much  as  I  you,  and  perhaps  more.     I  am  satisfied 
with  the  returns  from  my  investment,  and  I  hope 
you  are  satisfied  too." 

"  I  am  perfectly  satisfied."  The  tone  in  which 
this  answer  was  given  was  too  hearty  to  allow  a 
doubt  of  its  sincerity. 

"  I  am  very  glad.  I  thought  you  would  be 
satisfied  if  I  could  only  induce  you  to  try  the 
experiment.  I  had  faith  to  believe  that  your 
scruples  would  vanish  at  the  touch  of  gold." 

"  Don't  speak  of  them,  Cousin  Harvey.  They 
are  nothing  to  the  purpose  now." 

"  Nothing  at  all.     Beg  your  pardon.     You  are 


Poor  Pat.  221 

a  grand  business  man — I  hear  that  on  every  hand. 
Now  I  want  you  to  enjoy  a  month's  recreation,  and 
make  the  most  of  your  opportunities  for  pleasure. 
One  horse  will  always  be  at  your  service,  and 
you'll  not  care  for  two  unless  you  have  two  ladies 
as  companions.  Milly  will  enjoy  driving  with 
you.  I  sometimes  think  it  is  rather  dull  for  her 
here,  although  she  is  a  favorite  with  the  young 
people  of  the  village.  She  has  received  two 
advantageous  offers  of  marriage  and  declined 
both.  We  are  in  no  hurry  to  be  rid  of  her,  but 
when  the  right  man  comes  I  suppose  she  will 
leave  us.  It  is  the  way  with  girls." 

Mr.  Harvey  did  not  look  at  his  companion 
while  speaking  of  Mill)'-  Legrew,  and  in  the  next 
breath  he  was  asking  a  question  wholly  discon 
nected  with  pleasure  or  Milly.  Notwithstanding 
the  frequent  letters  exchanged  between  the 
partners,  there  were  many  details  of  business 
which  could  be  better  discussed  in  person  than 
upcm  paper. 

"If  the  prohibitionists  should  succeed  in  carry 
ing  the  next  election  it  would  be  a  severe  blow 
to  us,  Cousin  Wyatt." 


222  All  for  Money. 

"  Indeed  it  would,  but  there's  no  danger  of 
their  doing  it.  We  are  too  well  organized,  and 
have  too  large  a  fund  to  draw  upon  for  necessary 
expenses  to  leave  a  possibility  of  that.  The 
machinery  to  secure  a  legislature  pledged  to  our 
interests  is  already  in  good  running  order.  We 
can  count  sure  upon  another  year." 

"  Well,  I  shall  allow  you  to  know  whereof 
you  speak,"  responded  the  elder  cousin  com 
placently.  "  I  hope  you  are  a  true  prophet." 

"  I  know  I  am.  We  don't  make  so  many  public 
speeches  as  our  opponents,  but  we  do  more 
effective  work.  It  will  take  several  years  for  them 
to  bring  public  opinion  to  their  standard,  unless 
they  spend  money  more  freely  than  they  have 
yet.  Human  nature  is  on  our  side,  and  we  shall 
have  plenty  of  time  to  make  our  fortunes  before 
money  will  fail  to  buy  a  license  in  our  State.  Our 
party  have  the  reins  in  their  hands,  and  it  will  be 
hard  work  to  change  drivers.  There  are  some 
good  people  who  can  be  made  to  believe  that 
license  is  the  handmaid  of  temperance.  We're 
sure  of  them  any  way.  We  can  buy  thousands  of 
votes  outright.  There  are  other  people  who  can 


Poor  Pat. 


be  bribed  with  office  and  then  made  to  do  as  they 
are  told.  I  am  beginning  to  think  —  " 

Here  Hermon  Wyatt  paused.  He  remembered 
that  his  host  knew  the  price  for  which  he  had  sold 
himself  ;  and  but  for  the  tact  of  this  same  host 
there  would  have  been  an  awkward  silence. 

"  I  see  that  you  can  be  trusted  with  the  entire 
management  of  the  interests  of  the  firm,  Cousin 
Wyatt.  You  are  the  right  man  in  the  right  place, 
and  I  am  glad  you  are  appreciated." 

"  Thank  you,  but  just  now  I  care  more  for  pe 
cuniary  success  than  such  appreciation,"  was  the 
reply.  "As  for  being  in  the  right  place,  I  leave 
others  to  judge  of  that.  Do  you  care  to  examine 
these  papers  this  evening  ?" 

"I  think  not.  I  ought  not  to  keep  you  here 
longer.  The  ladies  are  waiting  for  you,  and 
Milly  will  give  us  some  music.  You  are  fond  of 
music." 

"So  fond  of  it  that  I  sometimes  stop  in  the 
street  to  listen  to  a  hand-organ.  There  are  two 
boys  who  play  before  the  store  nearly  every  day. 
One  has  a  tambourine,  and  the  other  an  organ. 
Handsome  little  fellows,  too,  and  when  I  have 


224  All  for  Money. 

time,  I  go  out  and  speak  to  them  and  give  them 
a  few  pennies." 

"  That  is  all  well,  Cousin  Wyatt,  but  it  seems 
to  me  it  would  be  better  to  give  them  work. 
That  kind  of  street-life  isn't  calculated  to  make 
them  the  men  they  ought  to  be." 

The  merchant  had  often  thought  the  same,  but 
he  knew  that  his  store  was  even  a  worse  place 
for  them  than  the  street.  His  heart  was  touched 
whenever  he  saw  them.  On  a  few  occasions  they 
had  sung  to  him,  and  if  for  any  reason  they  failed 
to  appear  as  usual,  he  was  troubled. 

He  forgot  them,  however,  when  Milly  Legrew 
touched  the  keys  of  the  piano,  and  he  stood 
watching  her  jewelled  fingers,  from  whose  tips  the 
witching  sounds  seemed  dropping  like  a  shower 
of  pearls. 

"You  will  have  one  appreciative  listener  while 
Cousin  Wyatt  remains,"  remarked  her  uncle,  as 
she  rose  from  the  instrument.  "  There  will  be  no 
danger  of  your  getting  out  of  practice." 

"  I  hope  not,"  she  answered,  blushing.  Then 
turning  to  Mr.  Wyatt,  she  added  :  "  Uncle  some 
times  goes  to  sleep  while  I  am  playing.  Auntie 


Poor  Pat.  22 3 

thinks  I  have  a  great  deal  of  patience  with 
him." 

"  Oh,  yes,  Milly,  you  are  a  model  of  patience. 
I  can  bear  testimony  to  that  as  well  as  your 
pupils.  Cousin  Wyatt,  perhaps  you  didn't  know 
that  Miss  Legrew  is  a  popular  music  teacher." 

"  I  didn't  know  it,"  answered  the  gentleman. 

"I  can  hardly  believe  it  myself,  but  it  is  even 
so,"  responded  Mr.  Harvey.  "  At  first  she  in 
sisted  upon  giving  lessons,  and  now  others  insist 
upon  it.  She  is  having  a  vacation  just  now,  but 
I  suppose  she  will  resume  her  labors  by  and  by." 

"  Certainly  I  shall,  uncle.     I  enjoy  teaching." 

"  You  mean  that  you  enjoy  polishing  the  dia 
monds  Miss  Perry  has  cut  ready  for  you.  Milly 
only  puts  the  finishing  touches  to  work  another 
has  nearly  done." 

"Yes,  sir,  but  if  it  was  necessary  I  could  cut 
diamonds  for  myself." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it,  but  I  should  be  very  sorry 
to  have  you  obliged  to  do  it." 

Mr.  Harvey  had  well  described  the  position  of 
his  niece  as  a  music  teacher.  Miss  Perry  recom 
mended  her  to  some  pupils  who  were  well 


226  All  for  Money. 

advanced,  and  these  pupils  found  her  so  delight 
ful  that  they  made  every  effort  to  please  her  ; 
while  the  praise  and  flattery  she  received  more 
than  compensated  her  for  what  she  had  lost  in 
withdrawing  from  city  gayeties. 

Now  that  Hermon  Wyatt  was  to  be  domesti 
cated  under  the  same  roof  with  herself  during  a 
long  summer  month,  she  had  no  regrets  for  the 
past.  She  hummed  a  love  song  softly  as  she 
unbound  her  hair  before  a  mirror  in  which  she 
saw  a  reflection  of  her  own  beauteous  self. 
Stella  Bond  was  more  than  welcome  to  the  old 
millionaire  with  his  ugly  face  and  horrid  manners. 
She  might  trail  her  velvets  and  clasp  a  necklace 
of  diamonds  about  her  white  throat  ;  our  queen 
of  beauty  did  not  envy  her. 

The  next  morning  the  whole  house  seemed 
pervaded  with  music  and  gladness.  Mr.  Harvey 
examined  the  papers  which  had  been  placed  in 
his  hands  the  evening  before,  and  the  result 
proved  beyond  a  doubt  that  he  had  made  no 
mistake  in  regard  to  his  partner  or  the  business 
in  which  they  were  engaged.  This  confirmation 
of  a  previous  conclusion  made  him  a  most  genial 


Poor  Pat.  227 

host,  and  it  was  he  who  proposed  "a  drive  for 
the  young  people." 

As  this  day  passed,  so  passed  others,  all  too 
quickly  ;  each  hour  bringing  with  it  some  plea 
sure  ;  until  at  length  Hermon  Wyatt  remem 
bered  that  duty  called  him  elsewhere.  Then 
was  told  the  story  which  eyes  had  long  before 
revealed,  and  lovers' vows  were  plighted  between 
two  who  had  been  brought  together  by  what 
seemed  the  merest  chance. 

Mrs.  Legrew  might  feel  that  her  daughter 
would  be  sacrificed  to  a  foolish  sentiment  in  mar 
rying  a  man  whose  fortune  was  yet  to  be  made, 
but  the  mother  had  small  claim  to  consideration 
in  the  matter.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey  were  well 
pleased,  and  congratulated  the  parties  warmly. 

"  I  would  live  with  Hermon  in  a  garret  and 
have  only  a  crust  of  bread  and  a  cup  of  water  for 
breakfast,  dinner  and  supper,  before  I  would 
marry  Mr.  Esterbrook  and  live  in  regal  style," 
said  the  young  girl  emphatically,  when  speaking 
of  her  prospects. 

"  You  had  better  do  it,  Milly,  child,"  said  Mr. 
Harvey.  "  You  had  better  do  it,  and  be  thankful 


228  All  for  Money. 

that  you  had  the  privilege  of  choice.  Hermon 
Wyatt  is  an  honorable  man,  and  in  ten  years  he 
will  be  a  rich  man." 

"  Then  my  mother  will  be  ready  to  acknowl 
edge  him." 

"No  doubt  she  will,  and  before  that  too,  I 
hope,"  responded  the  gentleman. 

"  I  hope  so,  but  I  don't  know.  She  will  have 
another  plan  for  me  this  winter,  unless  she  has 
given  me  up  entirely.  Cousin  Naomi  says  she 
thinks  of  me."  • 

Of  course  she  thinks  of  you,  and  if  she  doesn't 
live  to  rejoice  that  you  have  more  sense  than  she, 
I  am  no  prophet." 

The  next  letter  written  to  Naomi  Dodge  con 
tained  the  intelligence  of  Milly's  engagement ; 
and  as  was  intended,  the  letter  was  read  to  Mrs. 
Legrew. 

"  Is  the  girl  perfectly  insane  ?"  was  the 
exclamation  with  which  this  news  was  received. 
"  How  does  she  expect  to  live  ?  Here  I  have 
stayed  at  home  this  season  and  economized  to 
save  money  to  buy  her  a  handsome  outfit  for 
winter,  and  so  give  her  another  chance  to  make  a 


Poor  Pat.  229 

suitable  marriage.  She  don't  deserve  it  from  me, 
and  now  all  my  saving  is  lost.  What  shall  I  do, 
Cousin  Naomi  ?" 

"  I  don't  see  that  there  is  anything  you  can  do 
except  give  her  your  blessing.  She  says  her 
uncle  and  aunt  approve  of  her  choice,  and  they 
know  the  man." 

"  But  I  disapprove  of  what  they  have  done  for 
Milly,  any  way.  They  had  no  right  to  sustain  her 
in  her  disobedience  to  me.  Why  didn't  I  send 
for  her  to  come  home  when  she  first  went  away  ?' 

"  You  did  send  for  her.  You  remember  that 
you  commanded  her  to  come  home  and  marry 
Old  Dan  Esterbrook.  Lucky  for  her  she  had  the 
sense  not  to  mind  you." 

"  Don't  say  any  more  about  that  unless  you 
wish  to  drive  me  crazy  !  How  did  I  know  he 
would  make  a  slave  of  his  wife  and  abuse  her,  as 
people  say  he  does  ?" 

"  You  might  have  known  it.  When  a  woman 
sells  herself  for  so  many  dollars,  she  has  no  right 
to  complain  if  her  purchaser  insists  upon  his  own 
ership.  That  is  all  Old  Esterbrook  does.  He 
paid  for  his  wife  and  his  horses  in  the  same  coin, 


2 jo  All  for  Money. 

and  brings  them  out  for  exhibition  whenever  he 
pleases.  When  he  don't  please,  he  shuts  them 
up  in  stalls,  with  all  the  modern  improvements. 
That's  the  whole  story.  I'm  thankful  he  couldn't 
buy  Milly.  He's  at  his  country  seat  now,  and  if 
his  wife  don't  kill  herself  to  get  rid  of  him,  it 
must  be  because  she  has  too  much  principle  to 
do  it." 

"  There  is  no  need  of  her  doing  that.  He 
can't  live  many  years,  and  when  he's  gone  she 
can  spend  money  like  a  queen,  with  no  one  to 
dictate  her." 

"  Trust  him  to  attend  to  that.  He'll  tie  up 
his  money  so  she'll  have  small  good  of  it  at  the 
best  ;  and  if  she  offends  him  he'll  leave  her  with 
out  a  dollar  he  can  keep  away  from  her.  You 
don't  know  that  man  as  well  as  some  others  do." 

"  I  know  enough  of  him,"  was  the  impatient 
reply.  "  I  wish  I  had  never  seen  him." 

"  You  can't  wish  that  as  his  poor  wife  does.  I 
suppose  she  thought  money  would  buy  happiness, 
and  if  it  would  she  would  be  happy.  Her  mother 
says  she  has  a  weekly  allowance  of  as  much  as 
she  had  in  a  year  at  home,  and  perhaps  her 


Poor  Pat.  231 

old    husband   allows   her    to    spend    it   as    she 
pleases." 

"  Of  course  he  does  ;  so  she  don't  need  so  much 
pity,  after  all." 

"  Millicent  Legrew,  I  wonder  if  you  have  any 
heart.  Is  there  anything  in  the  world  so  dear  to 
you  that  you  couldn't  estimate  its  value  in  dollars 
and  cents  ?" 

"  Cousin  Naomi,  you  are  the  strangest  woman, 
and  you  ask  questions  no  one  else  would  think  of 
asking." 

"  More's  the  pity.  If  men  and  women  don't 
need  to  ask  straight  out  questions  I'm  mistaken 
in  my  calculations  ;  and  if  you  don't  see  the  day 
when  you'll  wish  you'd  taken  time  to  consider  and 
honestly  answer  some  of  my  strange  questions, 
I'm  twice  mistaken.  As  for  Milly,  you  ought  to 
ask  her  to  come  home,  and  then  treat  her  kindly. 
You  ought  to  make  some  acknowledgments  to 
her  too.  I  don't  know  anything  about  the  man 
she  has  engaged  to  marry  ;  but  I  have  no  doubt 
he  is  as  good  as  any  one  you  would  have  selected 
for  her,  and  I  am  glad  her  prospects  are  settled." 


CHAPTER    XII. 

A    MODERATE    DRINKER. 

Y  readers  do  not  need  to  be  told  that 
Herman  Wyatt  continued  to  prosecute 
his  business  with  unflagging  energy. 
There  was  not  a  man  in  the  trade  who  looked 
more  sharply  to  its  interests — not  one  who  was 
more  ready  to  assert  his  right  to  buy  and  sell  at 
pleasure. 

Few  presumed  to  remonstrate  with  him,  and 
these  few  soon  found  that  remonstrance  was 
vain.  His  brother  George  did  not  even  write  to 
him.  Mrs.  Ilsley  never  saw  him  unless  she 
chanced  to  meet  him  upon  the  street  ;  and  he 
might  have  forgotten  Mr.  Dummer  entirely  had 
not  a  box  of  choice  fruit,  with  a  note  from  Lizzie, 
assured  him  that  his  kindness  was  gratefully 
remembered.  He  avoided  the  old  apple-woman, 


A  Moderate  Drinker.  233 

except  at  stated  intervals,  when  he  managed  to 
leave  with  her  far  more  than  the  value  of  what  he 
took  in  exchange.  She  did  not  object  to  this 
now,  although  she  half  accused  herself  for  taking 
any  share  of  his  profits.  The  burden  of  poverty 
pressed  more  heavily  upon  her  with  each  suc 
ceeding  day,  and  she  was  forced  to  accept  the 
charity  she  had  once  refused. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  she  would  say,  and  then 
offer  a  silent  prayer  that  this  man  might  "  see  the 
error  of  his  ways,  and  be  converted."  Always 
this  one  petition,  repeated  often  in  her  lonely 
upper  room,  as  she  prepared  the  homely  meal  his 
bounty  had  provided.  She  could  do  no  more. 
She  had  no  influence  save  in  the  courts  of  Heaven, 
and  she  sometimes  feared  she  had  lost  even  this. 
Her  sense  of  isolation  and  want  of  companionship 
weighed  her  down  with  despondency  which  was 
\vell  nigh  despair.  Pitied  by  and  scorned  by 
many,  it  remained  to  Hermon  to  give  her  sub 
stantial  aid. 

One  winter  day,  when  the  cold  was  so  intense 
that  every  one  felt  its  power,  this  poor  woman 
had  neither  fuel  nor  money  with  which  to  pur- 


234  All  for  Money 

chase  it.  She  must  go  out  and  try  her  fortune, 
or  remain  within  and  die  ;  unless  in  some  mira 
culous  way  supplies  were  brought  to  her.  The 
way  was  never  so  long  ;  the  wind  never  blew  so 
fiercely  ;  and  never  were  people  in  such  haste  as 
those  who  swept  past  her.  Not  a  penny  did  she 
receive,  and  she  was  about  turning  homeward 
when  Mr.  Wyatt  appeared,  followed  by  the  two 
boys  of  whom  he  had  spoken  to  Mr.  Harvey. 

"  Bitter  day,"  he  said,  abruptly. 

"Yes,  sir,"  she  replied,  without  looking  up. 

'•  You  have  a  shelter  somewhere." 

"  Yes,  sir.  Thank  God  for  that,  but  it's  all  I 
have  except  a  few  pieces  of  furniture." 

"  Here  are  two  boys  who  havn't  as  much  as 
that.  Turned  into  the  street  yesterday,  and  not 
a  mouthful  to  eat  since.  Can  you  take  them 
home  with  you  and  cook  a  meal  of  victuals  for 
thcfn  ;  and  then  let  them  sleep  somewhere  where 
they'll  have  a  roof  over  their  heads  ?  I'll  vouch 
for  their  honesty." 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  can  take  them  with  me.  I've 
seen  them  before  and  I  ain't  afraid  to  trust  them. 
They  have  a  hard  time,  but  they're  good  boys." 


A  Moderate  Drinker.  235 

11  Yes,  mother,  we  try  to  be,"  responded  one. 
"  We  hain't  come  round  for  apples  lately,  because 
we  didn't  have  much  money." 

"  You're  half  froze." 

"  No,  mother,  not  that.  We've  been  warming 
over  a  grate,  but  we're  hungry.  We've  got 
enough  to  pay  for  a  loaf  and  a  bundle  of  wood  if 
you'll  let  us  go  home  with  you." 

"  To  be  sure  you  may  go.  It'll  warm  me  to 
see  somebody  there,  though  I  hain't  a  bit  of 
firing.  I  was  just  going.  I'm  most  froze,  and 
nobody  buys  to-day." 

That  was  her  experience,  but  trade  had  been 
brisk  in  the  store  of  Wyatt  &  Co.,  so  brisk  that 
the  proprietor  did  not  notice  the  young  musi 
cians  who  came  again  and  again,  hoping  to  see 
him  and  receive  some  assistance.  At  length,  to 
their  great  joy,  he  spoke  to  them,  when  they  told 
him  their  story.  This  reminded  him  of  the  apple- 
woman,  and  a  plan  at  once  suggested  itself  which 
he  proceeded  to  put  in  execution. 

Mrs.  Souther  could  not  express  a  tithe  of  her 
gratitude  as  a  bank  bill  was  placed  in  her  hands 
with  the  injunction  to  remain  at  home  and  make 


2j6  All  for  Money. 

herself  comfortable  until  the  weather  was  less 
severe.  "  By  that  time  you  can  tell  what  is  best 
to  do,"  added  her  benefactor,  leaving  the  trio  to 
care  for  each  other. 

The  younger  boy,  who  was  called  Ally,  stopped 
to  purchase  bread  and  wood,  yet  did  not  lose 
sight  of  his  companions  ;  and  together  they 
climbed  the  stairs  leading  to  Mrs.  Souther's 
room.  Out  of  this  a  door  opened  into  a  large 
closet,  with  a  long,  narrow  window  near  the 
ceiling,  which  had  been  darkened  by  the  present 
occupant.  She  thought  of  this  closet  the  mo 
ment  Mr.  Wyatt  proposed  that  she  should  find  a 
lodging-place  for  these  boys ;  and  she  took 
courage  as  she  reflected  that  poor  as  she  was  she 
could  confer  a  favor  upon  others  poorer  than 
herself. 

She  had  known  Davy  and  Ally  since  they 
came  to  the  city,  two  years  before.  They 
addressed  her  as  mother,  and  this  title  was  in 
itself  full  recompense  for  all  she  could  do  for 
them.  The  fire  blazed  and  crackled  in  the  little 
stove,  as  lump  by  lump  the  coal  was  added 
which  Davy  had  purchased  at  a  neighboring  yard, 


A  Moderate  Drinker.  237 

and   presently   the   room   was   pervaded  with   a 
grateful  warmth. 

"There's  tea  and  sugar,  mother,"  said  the  elder 
boy.  "  I  thought  you'd  want  tea,  and  when  we 
make  lots  of  money  we'll  all  have  coffee  and 
milk.  We'll  have  roast  beef  too.  Can't  we  stay 
here  always,  and  we  work  and  buy  things  for  us 
all,  so  you  needn't  sell  apples  and  peanuts  any 
more  ?  Wouldn't  you  like  that,  mother  ?" 

"  Yes,  Davy,  I'd  like  it  more  than  you  can 
think,  but  you  shouldn't  be  earning  for  me." 

"  But  we'd  play  you  was  our  real  mother,  same 
as  other  boys  have,  and  you'd  make  a  home  for 
us  same  as  other  mothers  do.  Ally  and  I'd  like 
it  tip-top,  shouldn't  we,  Ally  ?" 

"  Guess  we  should,  though  I  don't  know 
about  a  real  mother.  That  old  woman  we  run 
away  from  warnt  our  mother." 

"No,  she  warnt.  We'd  had  a  better  one  if 
we'd  had  any.  But  no  matter  about  her  now. 
You'll  let  us  stay,  wont  you,  Mother  Souther  ?" 

- "  It's  I  that'll  be  the  trouble  to  you,  boys 
Seems  as  though  I  was  most  done  getting  money 
for  myself.  I  thought  there  warnt  much  more 


2j8  All  for  Money. 

for  me  in  the  world.  I  thought  so  all  day,  till 
Mr.  Wyatt  come  with  you." 

"  We  was  discouraged,  too,  mother.  We  was 
turned  out  last  night  and  most  froze,  but  them 
gratings  warms  a  fellow  up.  This  is  worlds  bet 
ter  though.  It's  good  here." 

"  And  I  with  my  bill  all  whole,  while  you're 
hungry  and  spending  money  for  me." 

"We're  used  to  the  hungry,  so  we  don't  mind  over 
much,  and  we'll  wait  till  you've  made  your  tea." 

Mrs.  Souther  had  some  food  in  reserve,  and 
this  she  brought  forward  while  the  tea  was  mak 
ing  ;  and  then  the  three  sat  around  the  small 
table,  luxuriating  in  their  possessions.  Of  sup 
per,  such  as  was  spread  before  them,  there  was 
enough.  Folding  her  hands  reverently,  the  host 
ess  thanked  God  for  his  mercies  and  asked  that  his 
blessing  might  rest  down  upon  them.  These 
street  Arabs  had  in  various  ways  been  better 
taught  than  their  fellows,,  but  they  gazed  with 
wondering  awe  into  the  face  of  her  who  had 
"  spoke  to  God."  The  prayers  they  had  heard 
were  so  unlike  the  few  words  uttered  by  one  so 
near  to  them  that  they  fancied  there  must  be  a 


A  Moderate  Drinker.  239 

real,  spiritual  difference.  These  words,  however, 
hallowed  all  things  for  them,  and  were  a  pro 
phecy  of  good  to  come. 

This  man,  whom  some  extolled  as  intelligent, 
enterprising,  and  public  spirited  ;  but  whom 
others  denounced  as  unprincipled,  selfish,  and  an 
enemy  to  the  public  welfare  ;  might  well  con 
gratulate  himself  upon  having  performed  one  good 
deed  that  winter  day.  He  had  brightened  three 
lives.  It  was  pleasant  for  him  to  remember  this  ; 
so  pleasant  that  he  did  not  lose  its  influence  as  he 
wrote  to  Milly  Legrew  ;  whose  letters  came  to 
him  with  an  exact  regularity  which  bore  witness 
to  her  constancy. 

She  was  spending  the  winter  with  her  mother  ; 
her  prestige  somewhat  dimmed  by  her  loss  of 
property,  yet  still  a  favorite.  Twice  she  had  met 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Esterbrook  at  fashionable  parties  ; 
the  former  looking  uglier  than  ever  before,  and 
'the  latter,  with  a  pale,  wan  face,  which  lighted  up 
only  with  an  unmistakable  effort  of  will,  and  from 
which  the  light  died  out  as  suddenly  as  it  had 
appeared. 

Mrs.  Legrew  affected  not  to  see  this  ;  denying 


24.0  All  for  Money. 

indeed  that  there  was  aught  to  be  seen  ;  yet  in 
secret  she  rejoiced  that  it  was  not  her  daughter 
whom  society  commiserated  as  the  slave  of  a 
tyrant. 

"  Your  mother  never'll  own  it,  but  she's  as  glad 
as  she  can  be  of  anything,  that  you  didn't  give  up 
to  her  last  winter,"  said  Cousin  Naomi  to  Milly, 
after  a  conversation  in  which  Mrs.  Esterbrook's 
prospects  had  been  thoroughly  discussed.  "  She's 
the  most  worldly  woman  I  ever  knew,  and  she 
thinks  money  is  worth  more  than  anything  else  ; 
but  she  has  some  sense,  for  all  that.  She  would 
have  married  Old  Money-bags  herself  if  he  had 
asked  her  to,  and  I  should  have  been  afraid  he 
would,  only  such  men  want  the  youngest  and 
prettiest  that  are  in  the  market." 

"  That's  a  dreadful  way  to  talk,  Cousin  Naomi." 

"  I  know  it,  but  not  so  bad  as  it  is  to  act  that 
way.  I'm  so  old-fashioned  that  I  believe  in  mar 
riage  between  a  man  and  woman  ;  not  a  bargain 
where  each  pound  of  flesh  is  sold  for  a  stipulated 
price.  I'm  ashamed  of  women  for  holding  them 
selves  so  cheap." 

"  There's  another  strange  speech." 


A  Moderate  Drinker.  24.1 

"  Strange  or  not,  it's  true.  I  am  ashamed  when 
I  look  around  and  see  how  the  world  goes.  I  am 
out  of  patience,  too,  but  it  does  no  good.  It's  of 
no  use  for  me  to  find  fault.  Money  is  the  God  of 
this  world,  and  I  don't  know  but  it  always  will 
be." 

"  Cousin  .  Naomi,  why  are  you  not  married  ?" 
now  asked  Milly  abruptly. 

"  Because  the  only  man  I  ever  loved  married  an 
other  woman  ;"  was  the  prompt  reply.  "That's 
why,  and  to  my  mind  that's  enough.  Now  don't 
you  ever  say  anything  more  about  it.  There's 
the  postman.  He'll  be  likely  to  bring  something 
for  you,  and  I  must  go  and  look  after  dinner." 

A  letter  from  Hermon  Wyatt.  Milly  knew  it 
was  from  him  without  so  much  as  looking  at  the 
address.  It  contained  the  best  of  news  too.  He 
was  coming  to  the  city  on  business,  and  would 
see  her  within  forty-eight  hours.  Then  time 
seemed  to  lag  until  she  met  her  lover  with  a  shy 
gladness  which  made  ample  amends  for  the 
haughtiness  of  his  prospective  mother-in-law. 
The  latter  could  not  accuse  her  daughter  of  want 
of  taste,  or  find  aught  to  criticise  in  the  manners 


242  All  for  Money. 

of  the  gentleman  ;  yet  she  was  as  ungracious  as 
it  was  possible  for  her  to  be,  thus  manifesting  her 
disapprobation  of  the  existing  engagement. 

"  If  he  was  worth  a  half  million  there  would  be 
some  sense  in  Milly's  marrying  him,"  she  ex 
claimed,  when  alone  with  her  cousin,  who  was 
sure,  sooner  or  later,  to  hear  hen- true  sentiments. 

"Of  course  you  would  think  so,"  was  the 
somewhat  impatient  reply.  "  For  my  part  I'm 
glad  he  isn't,  and  I  shouldn't  be  sorry  if  he  and 
Milly  had  to  set  up  housekeeping  pretty  much 
as  our  fathers  and  mothers  did." 

"  I  should  expect  most  anything  of  you,  Naomi 
Dodge,  but  I  wouldn't  believe  you'd  say  that  if 
I  hadn't  heard  you." 

"  Well,  I've  said  it  and  I  mean  it.  If  they 
were  willing  to  make  the  most  of  as  much  as  our 
fathers  and  mothers  had,  and  not  try  to  do  what 
they  couldn't  afford  to,  they'd  be  comfortable 
enough.  There's  so  much  sham  and  pretension 
a  body  don't  know  where  there's  any  substance. 
If  a  woman  can't  afford  to  wear  silk,  she  ought 
to  be  satisfied  with  print,  and  not  make  herself 
miserable  about  it  either.  If  my  home  was  in  a 


A  Moderate  Drinker. 


log  cabin,  I'd  make  it  a  happy  home  if  it  de 
pended  upon  me." 

Milly  would  have  found  it  hard  to  accept  such 
a  home,  even  with  Hermon  Wyatt  ;  and  fortu 
nately,  as.  she  regarded  it,  there  was  no  need  of 
such  a  sacrifice  on  her  part.  Another  summer 
would  see  her  the  bride  of  a  prosperous  man. 

Returning  from  this  visit,  the  merchant  found 
his  proteges,  Ally  and  Davy,  waiting  at  the 
depot  for  an  opportunity  to  carry  some  light 
luggage,  and  so  earn  a  few  pennies. 

"  Glad  to  see  you,"  he  said  heartily.  "  I  was 
just  wishing  I  could  dispose  of  my  valise.  Where 
are  the  organ  and  tambourine  ?" 

"  At  home,  sir.  Mother  Souther  thought  we 
might  do  better  at  some  work.  This  is  but  the 
second  day,  and  the  folks  are  afraid  to  trust  us. 
They're  afraid  we'll  steal  the  luggage." 

"  That's  because  they  don't  know  you.  Come 
here  for  a  week  or  two,  and  by  that  time  there'll 
be  somebody  ready  to  recommend  you.  Then  if 
you  keep  right  along  you  may  get  something 
better  to  do." 

"  Yes,  sir,  that's  what  we  thought." 


244.  All  for  Motiey. 

"  All  right  at  home  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  jolly  good.  Mother  Souther  stays 
there  all  the  time  and  we  have  enough  to  eat. 
Ally  thinks  maybe  he'll  take  her  stand,  and  sell, 
same  as  she  used  to." 

"  He  might  do  that,  and  you  might  give  a 
concert  there,  some  day,  when  people  would  be 
likely  to  stop  and  hear  you.  You  can  try  differ 
ent  things,  and  don't  be  discouraged  if  you  don't 
make  much  to  begin  with.  If  you're  likely  to 
go  hungry,  come  round  to  me  and  I'll  see  what 
I  can  do  for  you." 

"  Yes,  sir.  Thank  you.  But  you've  paid  me 
too  much." 

"It's  all  right.  Tell  Mrs.  Souther  from  me 
that  you  need  to  learn  something  about  books." 

"  Yes,  sir.  She  has  us  at  the  books  every 
evening." 

"  That  is  well.     Do  your  best  to  learn." 

"The  next  moment  the  merchant  had  entered 
his  store,  which  no  longer  offended  him  with  any 
of  its  appointments.  He  looked  around  com 
placently.  Mr.  Crown  reported  favorably  of 
business  during  his  absence,  and  offered  some 


A  Moderate  Drinker.  245 

suggestions  warranted  by  new  developments  ; 
adding :  "  We  must  make  hay  while  the  sun 
shines.  The  prohibitionists  are  after  us  in  earn 
est  this  year,  and  it'll  take  good  engineering  to 
keep  out  of  their  way.  Two  or  .three  of  their 
heaviest  men  have  given  liberally  within  a  few 
days  to  promote  their  cause,  and  if  others  follow 
their  example,  there'll  be  something  done.  You 
can  measure  a  man's  interest  by  the  money  he's 
willing  to  give." 

"  That's  true.  But  the  chances  are  that  the 
examples  wont  be  followed.  It's  reasonably 
safe  to  calculate  on  that." 

"  I  know  it  is,  unless  that  affair  of  Miller's  stirs 
up  a-  permanent  excitement.  It's  a  bad  case. 
No  mistake  about  that.  To  tell  the  truth,  there 
hasn't  anything  happened  lately  that  surprised 
me  as  that  did." 

"  What  is  it  ?  I  only  heard  a  whisper  of  some 
thing  that  wasn't  quite  right  before  I  went  away. 
I  always  thought  Miller  was  a  fair,  honorable 
man." 

"  So  he  is  in  business,  and  people  supposed,  of 
course,  that  he  was  kind  in  his  family." 


246  All  for  Money. 

"  He  ought  to  be.  He  has  a  lovely  wife  and 
two  beautiful  children.  I  saw  them  with  him 
last  summer,  and  he  seemed  devoted  to  them." 

"  No  doubt  he  was,  and  would  always  be,  if  he 
didn't  stimulate  too  much.  That's  the  trouble 
with  him.  I  knew  he  bought  more  than  usual 
lately.  Everybody  knows  he  is  one  of  our 
customers,  and  you  must  be  prepared  for  any 
accusation  that  may  be  brought  against  you. 
The  one  that  sold  liquor  to  him  will  be  consider 
ed  the  guilty  party." 

"I  am  not  Miller's  keeper,"  said  Mr.  Wyatt 
in  an  earnest  tone.  "  He  bought  of  Landers 
before  I  came  here,  and  if  I  refused  to  sell  to  him 
he  would  only  go  to  some  other  store  for  what 
he  wants.  That  would  benefit  a  rival  dealer,  but 
neither  him  nor  his  family  ;  and  I  don't  feel  dis 
posed  to  do  it." 

There  were  few  men  who  attended  more  regu 
larly  to  business  than  did  Henry  Miller  ;  and  no 
one  of  his  acquaintances  had  suspected  him  of 
the  habits  which  his  brutality  made  it  impossible 
for  his  wife  longer  to  conceal.  Through  the  day 
he  drank  sparingly,  and  sometimes  not  at  all  ; 


A  Moderate  Drinker.  24? 

while  after  returning  home  at  evening,  he  in 
dulged  his  appetite  until  he  was  in  a  state  of 
beastly  intoxication.  Such  excess  could  not  fail 
to  tell  upon  his  looks  ;  yet  so  well  guarded  was 
his  secret,  that  the  change  was  attributed  to 
any  other  cause  rather  than  the  true  one. 

At  length,  screams  and  cries  for  help  were 
heard  by  the  servants  ;  and  rushing  to  the  room 
occupied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller,  the  former 
was  found  standing  over  his  wife,  who  was 
prostrate  upon  the  floor,  with  a  severe  wound 
caused  by  a  heavy  fall.  Assistance  was  called, 
and  the  infuriated  man  secured  until  morning, 
by  which  time  he  had  slept  off  his  debauch  and 
was  his  usual  self  again.  But  his  wife  was  so 
seriously  injured,  fears  were  entertained  that  she 
might  not  recover,  and  naturally  he  was  the 
object  of  marked  attention.  If  she  died,  he 
would  be  held  responsible  for  her  death. 

Yet  he  was  not  one  whit  more  guilty  than  thou 
sands  of  men  who  never  raise  their  hands  against 
those  they  have  sworn  to  protect.  Such  murders 
by  slow  torture  are  common  ;  so  common  as  to 
divest  them  of  half  their  horror  for  those  who 


248  All  for  Money. 

look  on   with  strange  apathy  while  the  deed  is 
wrought. 

In  this  case,  the  respectability  of  the  parties, 
and  the  unavoidable  publicity  gave  it  an  impor 
tance  not  easily  ignored.  It  remained  to  be  seen 
whether  others  would  take  warning  ;  and  look 
ing  below  the  surface,  measure  the  length  and 
breadth  of  a  moderate  drinker's  moderation. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 


DECEIVED. 

RS.  MILLER  convalesced  slowly,  en 
deavoring  to  screen  her  husband  by 
taking  blame  to  herself:  doing  this 
more  persistently  as  his  health  failed,  and  he  was 
confined  to  -the  house  by  a  disease  physicians 
pronounced  incurable.  There  was  no  antidote 
for  the  poison  rioting-  in  his  veins. 

He  had  put  the  fatal  draught  to  his  own  lips. 
But  others  standing  by  had  consented  thereto, 
and  God  would  not  hold  them  guiltless.  Hermon 
Wyatt  paused  but  a  moment  to  regard  the  fune 
ral  procession  moving  slowly  past  his  place  of 
business,  and  then  resumed  his  ordinary  avoca 
tions  as  though  he  had  neither  part  nor  lot  in  the 
matter.  Some  word  of  pity  for  the  bereaved 
family  escaped  his  lips.  But  words  are  cheap, 


250  All  for  Money. 

and  he  could  well  afford  them,  as  he  doubled  and 
trebled  his  profits  by  skillful  adulteration. 

He  had  no  time  to  waste  on  trivial  events.  His 
wedding-day  was  near  at  hand,  and  when  it  ar 
rived  there  was  given  to  him  a  bride  as  lovely  as 
his  heart  could  desire.  If  there  was  less  of  extra 
vagant  display  than  characterizes  many  bridals, 
there  was  infinitely  more  of  truth  and  loyalty 
Whatever  might  be  the  foibles  of  one  or  the  faults 
of  the  other,  their  marriage  was  the  result  of 
genuine  affection. 

The  wedding  ceremonies  took  place  at  Mr. 
Harvey's  ;  an  arrangement  to  which  Mrs.  Legrew 
gladly  acceded  ;  as  she  had  closed  her  house  and 
did  not  wish  to  re-open  it  until  late  in  the  au 
tumn.  She  was  disappointed,  dissatisfied,  and 
thoroughly  unhappy.  She  complained  to  Cousin 
Naomi,'  and  when  away  from  this  friend  she 
complained  of  her. 

After  stopping  with  her  sister  a  few  weeks,  she 
went  to  a  place  of  resort  for  pleasure  seekers, 
where  she  hoped  to  find  some  new  experience  to 
distract  her  thoughts.  The  crowd  had  left ;  but 
among  those  who  remained,  was  a  gentleman  who 


Deceived.  251 

at  once  sought  to  ingratiate  himself  in  her  favor. 
His  dress  and  manners  were  unexceptionable, 
as  befitted  one  of  ample  means.  He  talked  of  his 
houses,  horses,  and  lands,  and  threw  out  occa 
sional  hints  of  European  trips.  His  bills  were 
promptly  paid,  and  his  display  of  money,  although 
not  ostentatious,  was  calculated  to  impress  ob 
servers  with  a  sense  of  his  wealth. 

The  flattery  lavished  upon  the  fair  widow  was 
well  chosen  and  delicate  ;  and  it  required  no 
prophet  to  foretell  the  event  should  his  devotion 
continue.  The  lady  had  sneered  at  love,  and  it  is 
doubtful  if  she  was  capable  of  the  emotion  ;  yet 
it  must  be  recorded  that  she  listened  with  blush 
ing  delight  to  the  protestations  of  one  who — ac 
cording  to  his  own  words — would  die  to  save  her 
a  moment's  annoyance. 

Had  this  man  sought  her  daughter's  hand  two 
years  before,  she  would  have  inquired  of  his  an 
tecedents,  and  made  herself  certain  that  his  seem 
ing  wealth  was  not  a  myth.  But  in  her  infatuation 
she  forgot  to  be  cautious  ;  and  promising  herself 
the  pleasure  of  surprising  her  dear  five  hun 
dred  friends,  she  yielded  a  modestly  reluctant 


2 52  All  for  Money. 

consent  to  an  early  marriage.  She  consulted  no 
one,  foolishly  thinking  she  was  thus  securing  the 
grateful  homage  of  her  husband,  and  counting 
upon  future  display  to  compensate  for  the  privacy 
of  her  wedding. 

"Millicent  Legrew  married!"  exclaimed  Cou 
sin  Naomi,  as  the  letter  containing  this  an 
nouncement  dropped  from  her  hands.  "She  was 
no  more  fit  to  be  married  than  a  baby.  Ten 
chances  to  one  if  she  haint  thrown  herself  away 
on  some  fortune  hunter.  She's  acted  as  though 
she  was  possessed  this  last  year  or  two.  I  can 
have  a  home  with  her  the  same  as  ever,  and 
she'll  be  glad  to  have  me  have  the  house  open 
ready  for  them  when  they  return  from  their 
bridal  trip !  She'll  find  I  shan't  do  any  such 
thing.  She  don't  need  me  now,  and  if  she  did  I 
couldn't  do  her  any  good.  My  promise  is  can 
celled,  and  now  I  can  look  out  for  myself." 

"  I  hope  you  will,"  replied  a  sister  who  had 
listened  to  the  above  expression  of  her  feelings. 
"  I  never  could  understand  why  you  would  stay 
there  and  put  up  with  Millicent's  hateful  ways. 
For  my  part  I'm  glad  she's  married ;  and  pre- 


Deceived* 


cious  little  do  I  care  what  becomes  of  her.  She 
don't  deserve  a  good  husband.  Robert  Legrew 
couldn't  have  done  worse  than  take  her  for  a  wife. 
You  were  worth  a  dozen  of  her  if  she  did  have  a 
pretty,  baby  face." 

"  I  hope  I  was  always  worth  more  than  she  ; 
but  it  isn't  true  that  Robert  couldn't  have  done 
worse  than  to  marry  her.  She  thinks  she's  got  a 
rich  man  now,  and  if  she  has,  she  wont  care  for 
much  else." 

"And  if  she  hasn't"— 

"  She'll  be  mortified  almost  to  death.  She 
wont  need  any  other  punishment  for  the  way  she 
treated  Robert  and  Milly.  I'd  write  and  tell  her 
not  to  depend  on  me,  if  I  knew  where  to  direct. 
But  I  don't  ;  so  she  must  make  the  best  of  it 
when  she  comes  back.  Fine  housekeeping 
there'll  be,  with  new  servants  and  no  house 
keeper  !  I  wonder  what  Mill)'-  will  say  to  it  ? 
Perhaps  she'll  know  more  about  her  mother's 
plans  than  I  do." 

Settled  in  her  elegantly  furnished  rooms,  with 
never  a  care  save  that  of  rendering  herself 
charming  to  a  doting  husband  ;  the  days  went  by 


254  All  for  Money. 

for  Milly  Wyatt  like  delightful  dreams.  The 
news  ol  her  mother's  marriage  was  a  rude  awaken 
ing  ;  and  if  she  did  not  express  herself  as  strongly 
as  Cousin  Naomi  had  done,  she  thought  no  less. 

Then  came  a  letter  from  this  cousin,  request 
ing  her  to  communicate  to  Mrs.  Norcross  the 
fact  that  the  arrangement  existing  between  them 
for  so  many  years  was  now  at  an  end.  "  Mamma 
will  be  in  despair,"  thought  Milly,  and  yet  she 
did  not  wonder  at  the  decision. 

"  I  know  no  more  than  you  where  to  direct  to 
mamma,  and  I  fear  the  worst.  We  must  wait 
and  see  what  transpires,"  she  wrote  in  reply. 

Mr.  Wyatt  endeavored  to  persuade  his  young 
wife  that  all  would  be  well  ;  while  with  his  larger 
personal  experience  and  his  more  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  world,  he  could  anticipate  only 
misfortune  as  the  result  of  this  hasty  marriage. 

Sooner  than  she  had  expected,  Mrs.  Norcross 
returned  to  the  city,  and  was  obliged  to  open  her 
own  house  ;  a  hardship  she  lamented  bitterly. 
But  the  glamour  fancy  threw  around  her  husband 
had  not  yet  vanished.  He  was  as  devoted  as  in 
the  days  of  his  wooing. 


Deceived. 


There  was,  however,  one  drawback  to  her 
happiness.  Mr.  Norcross  seemed  troubled  ;  and 
when  questioned  in  regard  to  this,  he  acknowl 
edged  that  his  funds  were  running  low  ;  and  that 
much  as  he  regretted  the  necessity,  he  must  ask 
her  for  a  loan,  which  should  be  repaid  at  the 
earliest  possible  moment. 

"  And  now  let  us  say  no  more  about  it.  Money 
is  too  gross  an  object  to  be  considered  between 
lovers,"  he  remarked,  as  he  took  from  his  wife  a 
roll  of  bank  bills,  which  truth  compels  me  to  say 
she  gave  to  him  reluctantly. 

The  home  coming  had  been  at  his  suggestion  ; 
and  now,  dependent  as  they  were  upon  each 
other,  the  domestic  qualities  of  both  would  be 
put  to  the  test.  He  enjoyed  the  luxurious  ap 
pointments  of  the  house,  and  made  no  complaints 
of  muddy  coffee,  burned  steak  and  heavy  muffins. 
For  these  discomforts,  at  which  he  smiled  as 
unworthy  a  serious  thought  in  the  midst  of  so 
much  happiness,  he  solaced  himself  with  well- 
cooked  breakfasts  at  a  restaurant  later  in  the 
day  ;  while  Mrs.  Norcross,  with  no  such  resort, 
grew  dyspeptic  and  complaining. 


2 56  All  for  Money. 

Meanwhile,  she  found  her  expenses  rapidly 
increasing.  There  were  more  calls  for  money 
than  she  could  conveniently  meet.  At  length 
she  ventured  to  speak  of  this ;  and  contrary  to 
her  fears,  Mr.  Norcross  replied  frankly  that  she 
had  cause  for  dissatisfaction.  He  had  long 
known  that  he  ought  to  look  after  his  business, 
but  his  reluctance  to  leave  her  had  prevented  his 
doing  so.  Now  he  would  go  as  soon  as  he  should 
receive  a  remittance  from  his  agent,  who  had 
assured  him  by  the  mail  of  yesterday  that  several 
thousand  dollars  would  be  forwarded  within  a 
week. 

Of  course  this  was  believed,  especially  as  the 
letter  bearing  post-mark  and  date  as  represented, 
was  shown  as  proof  of  the  statement.  A  sufficient 
sum  was  advanced  to  pay  the  gentleman's  travel 
ling  expenses  to  the  western  city  where  his 
property  was  situated,  and  the  husband  and  wife 
parted  with  mutual  expressions  of  love  and 
devotion. 

When  separated  from  this  man,  Mrs.  Norcross 
reviewed  the  events  of  the  last  few  months,  and 
realized,  as  she  had  not  done  before,  how  strange- 


Deceived. 


ly  she  had  been  influenced.  Still  she  would  not 
admit  that  she  could  have  been  deceived.  Had 
not  her  husband  assured  her  again  and  again 
that  he  loved  her  for  herself  alone  ;  and  that  he 
had  no  mercenary  motive  in  seeking  to  win  her 
for  his  wife  ? 

She  was  to  hear  from  him  the  next  day,  and 
each  succeeding  day  of  his  absence.  True  to  his 
word,  he  wrote,  and  in  such  fashion,  that  every 
misgiving  on  her  part  was  dispelled.  Six  letters 
were  received,  which  she  read  and  re-read  with 
the  eagerness  of  a  young  girl  who  has  not  yet 
learned  to  question  the  sincerity  of  the  most 
extravagant  utterances.  But  on  the  seventh  day 
a  communication  of  quite  a  different  sort  lay 
open  before  her. 

In  it,  the  writer  frankly  confessed  that  he  had 
never  felt  for  her  the  least  affection  ;  that  he  had 
found  it  necessary  to  obtain  the  means  of  support  ; 
and  seeing  that  she  could  be  easily  flattered,  it 
had  occurred  to  him  that  he  might  spend  a  few 
months  with  her  not  unpleasantly.  Now  having 
decided  to  try  his  fortune  elsewhere,  she  would 
see  no  more  of  him. 


258  All  for  Money. 

He  also  informed  her  that  she  had  no  claim  to 
be  addressed  as  Mrs.  Norcross  ;  since,  were  she 
his  wife,  he  could  not  give  her  what  he  did  not 
possess  ;  and  his  real  name  was  not  that  by 
which  she  had  known  him.  Moreover,  he  had  so 
often  vowed  to  love  and  cherish  some  charming1 
woman,  that  it  would  be  unwise  for  her  longer  to 
regard  him  as  a  husband. 

He  thanked  her  for  her  kindness  and  gene 
rosity  ;  assuring  her  that  he  had  been  very  happy 
with  her,  while  he  trusted  she  had  found  him  an 
agreeable  companion.  As  for  property,  he  had 
always  been  a  poor  man  ;  living  by  his  wits, 
and  dependent  upon  his  friends  for  whatever  of 
luxury  he  had  enjoyed. 

It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  the  deserted 
woman  was  in  despair.  "  Mortified  to  death," 
and  yet  she  did  not  die.  She  might  do  as  she 
had  done  before  ;  shut  herself  in  her  room  and 
indulge  in  wholesale  lamentations  ;  but  small 
comfort  would  this  be,  with  no  one  to  give  her 
sympathy  or  assistance. 

In  her  extremity  she  sent  for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Har 
vey,  to  whom  she  made  full  confession  of  her  folly. 


Deceived. 


259 


"I  don't  know  how  I  could  have  done  as  T 
have,"  she  exclaimed  helplessly.  "  The  man 
deserves  to  be  hanged." 

"  That  may  be,  Millicent,  but  the  best  thing 
you  can  do  is  to  say  nothing  about  him,"  replied 
her  brother-in-law,  who  was  thoroughly  dis 
gusted  with  the  whole  affair. 

"I  know  it.  I  know  it,"  she  responded,  fully 
sensible  that  silence  was  her  only  refuge.  "But 
so  much  of  my  money  is  gone,  how  am  I  to 
live  ?" 

"  As  others  live  who  have  no  more  than  you." 

"  But  I  can't.  I'm  not  used  to  living  so.  I 
think  Milly  ought  to  show  some  interest  in  me. 
And  there's  Cousin  Naomi.  Everybody  forsakes 
me  in  my  trouble.  How  can  a  man  be  so 
wicked  !" 

What  could  be  done  with  such  a  woman,  weak, 
selfish,  and  heartless  as  she  was  !  She  had  never 
•  learned  to  rely  upon  herself,  and  this  was  no 
time  to  teach  the  lesson  successfully.  Others 
must  act  for  her.  Mr.  Harvey  leased  her  house 
to  a  family,  who  took  immediate  possession  ; 
while  she  accepted  his  invitation  to  return  with 


260  All  for  Money. 

his  wife  and  himself  to  their  home.  She  would 
not  be  a  pleasant  addition  to  their  family,  but 
they  felt  a  responsibility  in  regard  to  her  which 
they  could  not  ignore. 

Here  Milly  visited  her,  endeavoring  to  do  what 
a  daughter  might  to  comfort  a  mother,  yet  find 
ing  all  efforts  repulsed.  Sometimes  the  unhappy 
woman  wept  for  hours,  refusing  to  speak  ;  while 
at  other  times  she  moaned  continually,  uttering 
piteous  ejaculations,  which  would  have  appealed 
strongly  to  the  sympathy  of  those  who  heard 
them,  had  they  not  listened  to  the  same  under 
far  different  circumstances. 

She  grew  thin  and  shadowy ;  disclaiming  all 
interest  in  what  was  passing  around  her,  until  it 
really  seemed  that  she  was  losing  her  hold  upon 
life.  Milly  was  again  summoned,  and  trusting 
still  the  tried  friend  of  her  childhood,  she  en 
treated  Cousin  Naomi  to  come.  There  was  a 
short  struggle,  and  then  the  old  duty  was. 
resumed. 

"  I'm  so  glad  you'll  stay  with  me,"  murmured 
Mrs.  Legrew,  pressing  her  pale  face  to  that  of  her 
cousin.  "  I'm  so  glad,"  she  repeated.  "  I've 


Deceived,  261 

been  going  wrong  ever  since  you  left  me.  Don't 
leave  rne  again.  I'm  sorry  for  what  I've  done, 
but  I  can't  help  it.  You  know  I  can't  help  it.  I 
don't  know  how  I  could  do  so.  Cousin  Naomi, 
I'm  beginning  to  think  money  isn't  everything 
that's  worth  having  ;  though  'twas  so  hard  to 
get  things  when  I  was  a  girl  at  home,  I  thought 
I  could  be  happy  anywhere,  if  I  only  had  money 
enough.  Don't  blame  me." 

"  Blame  you,  child !"  replied  Naomi  Dodge, 
with  tears  in  her  eyes.  "  I've  done  a  host  of 
wrong  things  myself,  and  what  right  have  I  to 
blame  you  !" 

"  I  don't  know  what  you've  done  wrong,  Cousin 
Naomi.  It  seems  to  me  you've  always  been 
good.  You've  been  a  great  deal  better  to  me 
than  I  deserved  ;  and  now  I  want  to  ask  you  to 
forgive  me  for  taking  Robert  away  from  you.  I 
knew  he  loved  you,  but  he  had  money,  and  I 
wanted  the  money.  Will  you  forgive  me  for 
that  ?" 

"  Yes,  Millicent,  I  forgive  you  as  I  hope  to  be 
forgiven  for  all  my  sins.  But  don't  speak  of  it 
again.  I  can't  bear  it.  You  and  I,  both  of  us, 


262  All  for  Money. 

need  to  think  of  something  else.  This  world 
isn't  all  there  is  for  us." 

"  I  know  it.  I've  always  known  it,  but  I 
wouldn't  think  of  it.  Now  I  must,  because  there 
isn't  much  more  of  this  world  for  me.  I've  said 
a  great  many  times,  when  I  was  crossed  in  my 
wishes,  that  I  should  die,  but  I  didn't  realize 
what  it  means  to  die.  Now  I  don't  know.  What 
is  it,  Naomi  ?  Oh  !  how  can  I  die  !  Do  you  think 
I  must  ?  But  I  don't  want  to  live.  How  could  I 
have  been  so  deceived  !  You're  sure  you've  for 
given  me  ?" 

"  Yes,  Millicent,  I'm  sure.  Now  try  to  think 
of  all  you  have  to  live  for." 

"  What  is  it  ?  Do  you  think  Milly  loves  me  ? 
She  seems  so  strange.  I  didn't  know  Mr.  Ester- 
brook  was  such  a  bad  man.  I'm  glad  she  didn't 
marry  him,  but  I  can't  tell  her  so.  I  think  I've 
been  making  mistakes  all  my  life  ;  all  my  life, 
Naomi.  But  it's  too  late  to  change.  I'm  a 
trouble  to  everybody.  This  isn't  the  right  place 
for  me  to  stay,  and  Milly  don't  want  me  with 
her.  If  you'd  only  take  me  away  with  you  some 
where,  Cousin  Naomi,  I  should  be  so  glad.  I've 


Deceived.  263 

enough  to  pay  you,  and  I'd  try  to  be  patient  and 
reasonable." 

"  We  will  see  about  moving  by  and  by,"  was 
the  cheerfully  spoken  reply.  "Trust  me  for  not 
allowing  you  to  be  a  trouble  to  your  friends.  I 
am  going  to  take  care  of  you  myself." 

With  this  assurance  Mrs.  Legrew  was  some 
what  comforted,  and  henceforth  deferred  to  her 
cousin's  judgment  in  all  things.  She  did  not 
again  speak  of  dying,  but  it  was  evident  that  she  . 
thought  of  it  ;  while  it  was  equally  evident  that 
she  had  by  no  means  renounced  the  vanities  to 
which  she  had  all  her  life  done  homage. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
THE  WANDERER'S  RETURN. 

MORNING  in  spring.     Sunlight  flooding 
the   earth   with   its   glory,  and  the   air 
redolent  of  perfumes,  sweet  and  subtle 
as  the  fabled  odors  of  Araby. 

A  woman  was  bending  over  a  bed  of  hyacinths, 
and  hearing  a  footfall,  looked  up  to  see  a  man, 
with  figure  slightly  bowed  and  hair  as  white  as 
snow,  coming  towards  her.  He  walked  slowly 
but  firmly,  as  though  in  no  haste,  and  yet  having 
a  definite  purpose  in  view. 

There  was  something  familiar  in  his  appear 
ance  which  the  woman  could  not  define.  He  was 
surely  a  stranger.  She  had  never  seen  him 
before.  He  drew  nearer,  and  still  unmindful  of 
her  rudeness,  she  continued  to  gaze  at  him.  At 
length  he  was  beside  her. 


The   Wanderer  s  Return.  265 

"Cousin  Naomi,  have  you  a  welcome  for  the 
wanderer  ?"  he  asked  in  a  husky  voice.  "  I  know 
you  are  Cousin  Naomi." 

"  And  you.     You  are  Russell  Parsons." 

"I  am.  But  not  the  same  Russell  Parsons 
who  left  his  home  thirty  years  ago.  Thank  God, 
I'm  a  different  man  from  what  I  was  then  ;  else 
you  wouldn't  see  me  here.  I've  not  come  back 
to  be  a  burden  to  my  friends,  or  to  disgrace 
them.  I  remembered  my  sisters,  and  I  longed  to 
see  some  one  in  whose  veins  flowed  the  same 
blood  as  in  my  own.  Have  you  a  welcome  for 
me  ?" 

"  If  what  you  say  is  true,  Russell  Parsons,  I 
have." 

"  As  God  hears  me,  I  speak  the  truth." 

It  was  thirty  years  since  he  had  gone  forth 
from  a  home  in  which  there  was  little  to  develop 
a  noble  manhood,  but  where  he  had  already 
become  a  sorrow  and  disgrace.  Few  parting 
words  were  bestowed  upon  him.  Who  knew  if 
he  had  not  a  heart  which  might  yet  be  won  to 
truth  and  duty ! 

Cousin  Naomi  was  the  last  to  bid  him  adieu,  as 


266  All  for  Money. 

she  was  the  first  to  welcome  him  on  his  return. 
She  had  thought  of  him  kindly.  It  was  not 
wholly  his  fault  that  he  had  fallen  into  evil 
companionship,  and  learned  to  drain  the  intoxi 
cating  cup.  There  was  some  excuse  for  his 
reckless  career  ;  some  reason  for  the  hardness  of 
which  his  parents  complained. 

Mr.  Harvey  had  heard  of  this  man,  but  sup 
posed  him  to  be  dead.  He  met  the  stranger  now 
with  sufficient  cordiality,  and  then  called  to  his 
wife.  Mrs.  Harvey  came  forward  ;  some  memory 
of  the  olden  time  giving  to  her  manner  an  un 
wonted  tenderness. 

"  I  never  expected  to  see  you  again,"  she  said, 
as  she  stood  looking  up  into  her  brother's  face, 
while  he  held  her  hands  close  clasped  in  his  own. 
"  Millicent  is  here  too." 

"  I  knew  she  was,  before  I  came.  I  wished  to 
see  you  both.  I  shall  go  before  you  are  tired  of 
me." 

Millicent,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  had  been 
his  pet  and  favorite.  The  meeting  between  them 
was  without  a  witness,  but  when  next  they  were 
seen  there  were  traces  of  tears  upon  the  cheeks  of 


The    Wanderer  s  Return.  267 

both.  Whatever  there  was  of  sincerity  and  hon 
est  affection  in  this  woman's  nature  was  stirred 
to  its  depths.  The  brother  had  neither  wife  nor 
child.  Perhaps  with  him  she  might  find  a  way 
out  of  her  difficulties. 

His  story  was  told  only  to  his  cousin.  His 
sisters  would  find  little  in  it  to  interest  them, 
since  they  could  but  vaguely  comprehend  the 
struggles  of  a  soul  fast  bound  by  evil  habits,  yet 
still  retaining  some  aspirations  for  a  God-given 
freedom.  He  had  been  so  poor  he  had  not  where 
to  lay  his  head.  He  had  been  so  wretched,  that 
he  longed  for  death,  and  so  vile,  that  the  veriest 
outcasts  of  the  street  shrank  from  him. 

But  here  he  stood,  redeemed  and  saved  :  a 
better  man  by  far  than  he  who  watched  so  nar 
rowly  each  movement  of  the  stranger,  lest  his 
guest  might  prove  unworthy  of  confidence. 
Russell  Parsons  had  the  manners  of  a  gentleman  ; 
and  so  much  of  self-control,  that  he  would  not 
betray  his  consciousness  of  the  scrutiny  to  which 
he  was  subjected.  Yet  when  a  week  had  passed 
he  prepared  to  take  his  leave. 

"  I  am  going  in  the  morning,"  he  said  to  Cousin 


268  All  for  Money. 

Naomi.     "I  don't  blame  any  one  for  distrusting 
me." 

"Who  distrusts  you  ?"  was  asked  in  reply. 

"  Not  you,  and  perhaps  neither  of  my  sisters. 
Mr.  Harvey  is  right  to  be  on  his  guard.  When  I 
have  a  place  I  can  call  my  own,  I  shall  come  back 
for  Millicent.  Will  you  go  with  us  ?" 

"  I  have  promised  to  take  care  of  Millicent," 
was  the  hesitating  response. 

"  And  I  have  promised  her  that  she  shall  live 
with  me.  I  am  not  a  poor  man.  There  is  no 
need  that  I  should  be  indebted  to  any  one  for  so 
much  as  a  piece  of  bread.  Millicent  will  be 
happier  with  me  than  she  can  be  anywhere  else, 
and  I  owe  something  to  my  family  for  the  trouble 
I  have  made  them.  Poor  child !  She  has 
brought  a  great  sorrow  upon  herself.  She  has 
thought  too  much  of  money  and  show.  She  must 
learn  to  think  of  other  things.  She  says  you 
have  always  been  a  true  friend,  although  she  did 
you  a  great  wrong." 

An  impatient  gesture  warned  the  speaker  that 
this  wrong  was  a  forbidden  subject,  and  he  has 
tened  to  apologize. 


The    Wanderer  s  Return.  269 

A  sense  of  relief  was  felt  by  both  host  and 
hostess  when  their  guest  had  departed.  They  did 
not  talk  much  of  him,  but  they  made  no  effort  to 
conceal  from  each  other  the  fact  that  his  visit  had 
been  an  annoyance. 

"It's  not  best  to  let  Milly  know  anything  about 
it,"  remarked  Mr.  Harvey.  "  I  presume  she  docs 
not  know  she  has  such  an  uncle.  If  he  needs 
pecuniary  assistance  he  shall  have  it.  I  can 
afford  to  do  more  for  others  than  I  have  done,  and 
another  year,  if  all  goes  well  in  business,  you 
shall  have  the  new  house  you  have  wanted  so 
long." 

"  Then  I  shall  have  my  heart's  desire,  if  I  can 
decide  upon  the  plan." 

"  You  can  have  it  as  you  please,  and  I  hope 
by  that  time  Milly  and  her  husband  will  estab 
lish  themselves  in  a  home  of  their  own.  They 
can  afford  to  start  in  good  style,  and  we  can  give 
them  a  handsome  outfit.  That  reminds  me  that 
Dan  Esterbrook  is  in  the  land  of  the  living.  I 
heard  from  him  yesterday,  and  his  wife  is  an 
object  of  pity.  He  hardly  allows  her  out  of  his 
sight,  and  for  weeks  together  she  is  confined  to 


2 jo  All  for  Money. 

the  house  with  him.  If  she  receives  any  visitors, 
it  must  be  in  his  presence,  and  he  is  getting  so 
unbearable,  that  her  stepfather  thinks  of  inter 
fering  in  her  behalf." 

:<  Would  his  interference  benefit  her  ?" 

"  Not  at  all.  It  would  only  make  her  lot  harder. 
Silence  and  submission  are  her  only  safeguards. 
Millysaid  she  was  extravagantly  fond  of  dress,  and 
he  insists  upon  her  dressing  in  silks  and  satins, 
even  when  she  sees  no  one  but  himself.  She 
wears  her  diamonds,  too,  to  gratify  him." 

"  How  tired  she  must  be  of  them  !  What  a 
mercy  it  is  that  Milly  is  not  his  wife  !" 

"  Mercy,  indeed  !  She  never  should  have  been 
his  wife.  I  could  have  prevented  it,  and  I  would. 
If  Stella  Bond  was  a  niece  of  mine  I  would  take 
her  away  from  Dan  Esterbrook  and  compel  him 
to  give  her  half  his  fortune.  If  the  truth  was 
told,  I  presume  he  has  no  right  to  it  himself." 
i  People  might  say  that  Mrs.  Esterbrook  was 
unhappy  ;  that  she  led  a  slave's  life,  and  that 
the  most  forlorn  beggar  might  well  refuse  to 
exchange  places  with  her  ;  yet  all  this  did  not 
express  one  tithe  of  the  wretched  truth. 


The   Wanderers  Return.  271 

She  had  coveted  money.  She  could  not  earn 
it.  How  else  could  she  secure  it  than  by  selling 
herself  ?  Now,  of  how  little  worth  it  seemed  ! 

A.S  they  pronounced  her  name,  men  sneered, 
because  she  ha-d  thus  degraded  her  womanhood  ; 
but  was  not  money  their  God,  as  it  was  hers  ? 
The  sacrifice  they  were  making  might  be  less  ; 
but  was  not  the  motive  prompting  to  this  sacri 
fice  the  very  same  ? 

Long  before  this,  Hermon  Wyatt  had  heard 
for  the  second  time  how  Milly  had  been  tempted 
and  how  bravely  she  resisted.  He  did  not, 
however,  tell  her  in  return  for  her  confidence 
that  he  had  known  it  all  before.  The  time  for 
this  confession  had  not  yet  come.  He  smiled 
his  approval  as  she  congratulated  herself  upon 
her  present  good  fortune,  and  wisely  kept  his 
secret. 

His  business  did  not  trouble  her.  She  never 
gave  it  a  serious  thought.  It  was  sufficient  for 
her  that  her  wants  were  all  supplied,  and  she  was 
the  petted  wife  of  a  prosperous  man.  She  looked 
forward  to  housekeeping,  yet  was  quite  willing 
to  postpone  its  responsibilities.  She  had  ample 


2j  2  All  for  Money. 

time  for  the  cultivation  of  her  musical  tastes,  and 
enjoyed  with  ever  new  delight  the  praises  of 
those  who  listened  to  her  brilliant  playing. 

Her  husband  told  her  of  his  niece,  whose  father 
and  brothers  had  worked  to  earn  the  price  of  a 
piano  ;  and  from  time  to  time  Mrs.  Wyatt  sent 
this  young  lady  rolls  of  music  she  had  herself 
learned.  Letters  came  in  reply,  expressing  so 
much  of  gratitude  and  pleasure,  that  the  writer 
came  to  be  considered  a  friend  ;  and  at  length  a 
regular  correspondence  was  commenced  between 
these  two.  Then  photographs  were  exchanged, 
and  the  face  of  each  became  familiar  to  the 
other. 

"  Isn't  she  handsome  ?"  exclaimed  Milly  to 
her  husband.  "  She  is  just  as  handsome  as  she  can 
be,"  was  added  in  girlish  fashion  before  he  could 
reply.  "  When  we  go  to  housekeeping  we  must 
have  her  spend  the  winter  with  us.  She  says 
she  can  cook,  and  do  every  other  kind  of  house 
work.  What  a  paragon  she  must  be,  Hermon. 
And  there  are  so  many  others  in  the  family,  they 
will  hardly  miss  one." 
"  Don't  count  upon  that.  If  you  had  heard 


The   Wanderer  s  Return.  27 j 

her  father  talk  of  her,  you  would  know  that  no 
other  child  can  ever  take  her  place  with  him." 

"  Of  course  not,  but  we  must  have  her  here.  J 
love  her  already.  I  should,  any  way,  she  looks 
so  much  like  you.  And  my  husband  is  the  very 
handsomest  man." 

"  To  you,  my  flatterer.  You  can  tell  Niece 
Nelly  that  she  may  consider  herself  engaged  to 
spend  the  winter  with  us,  and  we  will  do  our 
best  to  make  the  time  pass  pleasantly." 

Mr.  Wyatt  would  be  glad  to  see  his  niece,  but 
it  must  be  confessed  that  he  had  some  fears  in 
regard  to  her.  He  had  not  forgotten  her  mis 
sion  for  the  suppression  of  liquor-selling,  and  he 
knew  she  was  not  one  to  change  her  sentiments 
without  good  reason  for  so  doing.  She  was  de 
cided,  independent,  and  self-reliant. 

So  much  could  be  learned  from  her  letters.  It 
was,  also,  easy  to  see  that  she  was  accustomed 
to  make  the  most  and  best  of  all  which  came  to 
her  ;  and  once  having  decided  that  an  object  v/as 
worthy  of  accomplishment,  she  gave  herself  to  it 
with  all  the  enthusiasm  which  characterized  her. 

She  might  be  too  pronounced  in  her  mariners 


All  for  Money. 


for  fashionable  society  ;  but  it  was  impossible 
that  she  should  be  otherwise  than  brilliant  and 
attractive.  She  might  have  positive  opinions, 
quite  opposed  to  the  careless  crowd  ;  but  it  was 
sure  that  she  could  maintain  these  opinions  with 
out  giving  offence. 

Her  interest  in  this  relative  made  Milly  forget 
something  of  her  grief  and  chagrin  at  her  mother's 
misfortune.  Cousin  Naomi,  too,  had  assumed  the 
burden  she  could  not  herself  bear  ;  and  now  that 
she  believed  the  worst  was  over,  she  put  aside,  so 
far  as  possible,  all  anxious  thoughts. 

While  her  mother  remained  at  Mr.  Harvey's, 
she  knew  nothing  of  the  uncle  v/hose  acquaint 
ance  she  had  yet  to  make  ;  but  when  in  the  early 
summer  a  new  home  was  prepared,  to  which 
Russell  Parsons  welcomed  his  sister  and  cousin  ; 
a  long  letter  was  written  to  Mrs.  Wyatt,  contain 
ing  an  outline  of  his  history  with  an  urgent  invi 
tation  to  visit  him. 

Her  astonishment  was  unbounded,  and  waiting 
only  to  consult  her  husband,  she  prepared  for  the 
journey.  What  to  expect  at  its  termination  she 
knew  not  ;  but  what  she  found  was  a  spacious 


The   Wanderer  s  Return.  275 

house,  furnished  with  all  needed  comforts  and 
elegance,  and  three  people  who  seemed  admi 
rably  suited  to  dwell  together. 

"  Why,  my  dear  mamma,  what  a  surprise  this 
is,"  she  exclaimed. 

"  I  knew  it  would  be,"  was  the  reply.  "  It  is  a 
surprise  to  me  every  hour.  Your  uncle,  too,  is  so 
good  ;  so  much  better  than  I  am.  You  must 
love  him,  Milly." 

"  I  know  I  shall  do  that,  mamma.  What  a 
pleasant  face  he  has,  and  what  a  sweet  voice.  Is 
he  rich  ?" 

"  I  don't  know.  He  says  he  has  enough  to  sup 
port  us  all  comfortably,  but  there  is  no  need  of 
my  being  dependent  upon  him.  I  have  something 
left." 

"  A  great  deal  left,  mamma.  You  have  this 
dear,  good  brother,  and  cousin  Naomi,  and  me, 
if  you  will  count  me  as  one  of  your  posses 
sions." 

"  I  will  count  you,  my  child.  I  do  count  you, 
and  I'm  thankful  you  didn't  yield  to  me  when  I 
insisted  upon  your  marrying  Mr.  Esterbrook.  I 
was  thinking  of  his  money,  and  I  didn't  know  he 


276  All  for  Money. 

was  so  bad.     Will  you  forgive  me  for  the  trouble 
I  made  you  ?" 

"  Forgive  you,  mamma  !  Of  course  I  will.  I 
have  nothing  to  forgive  either,  if  you  will  only 
love  me  a  little.  I  knew  all  the  time  you  were 
blinded  by  that  old  man's  wealth,  the  same  as 
other  people  were.  It's  all  over  now,  and  we'll 
never  think  of  it  again.  But,  mamma,  why  didn't 
I  know  about  Uncle  Russell  ?  You  never  told 
me  you  had  a  brother." 

"  I  know  I  never  did.  I  had  almost  forgotten 
it  myself,  and  besides,  he  was  no  credit  to  us. 
I  think  father  and  mother  were  glad  when  they 
lost  all  trace  of  him." 

"  Was  he  a  drunkard  ?" 

"  Not  so  bad  as  that  while  he  was  at  home,  but 
he  must  have  grown  worse  afterwards.  Now  he 
wont  taste  a  drop  of  wine,  or  have  it  in  the 
house.  I  miss  it,  and  it  seems  as  though  I  couldn't 
get  through  one  day  after  another  without  it. 
But  he  and  Naomi  are  agreed,  and  I  am  obliged 
to  submit  to  them."  This  last  was  said  in  the 
complaining,  querulous  tone  to  which  the  daugh 
ter  was  so  well  accustomed  ;  and  presently  came 


The  Wanderers  Return.  277 

the  question  :  "Didn't  you  bring  some  wine, 
Milly  ?" 

"  Why  no,  mamma,  I  shouldn't  think  of  such  a 
thing-.  Hermon  don't  like  to  have  me  taste  of  it, 
and  he  never  brings  any  to  our  rooms." 

"But  he  sells  it  to  everybody  that  will  buy, 
and  somebody  drinks  it." 

"  I  suppose  so,  mamma,  though  I  never  think 
about  it.  He  manages  his  own  business,  and  I 
never  think  of  interfering.  He  would  be  aston 
ished  if  I  should.  He  wants  me  to  enjoy  myself, 
while  he  makes  money  for  me  to  spend.  That's 
the  way  it  is.  I  don't  care  for  wine  and  cham 
pagne,  so  it's  no  self-denial  for  me  to  give  them 
up." 

Mrs.  Legrew  sighed,  and  said  no  more  in  regard 
to  the  stimulants  she  so  much  craved.  But  Milly 
did  not  forget  it. 

"Mamma  needs  some  cordial,"  she  said  later, 
when  talking  with  Cousin  Naomi. 

"You  mean  wine,  and  such  things,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Yes,  and  I  don't  understand  why  she  is  not 
to  have  them,  if  she  chooses.  I  don't  know  what 
right  uncle  has  to  dictate  what  she  shall  drink. 


2j8  All  for  Money. 

She  is  capable  of  judging  for  herself.     If  she  needs 
medicine,  she  ought  to  have  it,  of  course." 

"  Of  course  she  had,  Milly.  But  your  uncle 
knows  more  about  such  medicine  than  you  or  I 
do.  He  hates  it.  He  thinks  it  is  a  sin  to  make  it, 
or  sell  it,  or  drink  it.  I  suppose  you  don't,  and 
I'm  only  beginning  to  think  about  it  at  all.  But  I 
know  that  your  mother  is  better  off  without  her 
cordials  than  she  was  with  them.  She  was 
discouraged  and  unhappy,  and  glad  to  take  any 
thing  that  would  make  her  forget  her  troubles, 
even  for  a  little  while.  I  found  that  out  as  soon 
as  I  went  to  your  Uncle  Harvey's." 
"  What  do  you  mean,  Cousin  Naomi  ?" 
"  I  mean  that  she  drank  more  wine  than  she 
ought  to,  and  I  know  now  that  the  habit  has 
been  growing  upon  her  for  a  long  time.  I  didn't 
think  of  it,  but  your  Uncle  Russell  has  opened  my 
eyes  to  see  some  things  I  never  saw  before. 
Your  mother'll  be  well  taken  care  of;  better 
than  she  could  be  anywhere  else  ;  and  it  seems 
to  me  a  blessed  providence  that  sent  your  uncle 
back  just  now.  This  is  a  pleasant  place.  Don't 
it  seem  like  home  ?" 


The   Wanderer  s  Return. 


"  Mamma's  rooms  look  home-like,  with  her 
furniture,  and  everything  seems  cozy  and  com 
fortable,  as  Hester  Downing  used  to  say.  You 
remember  her  ?" 

"  Yes,  indeed.  She  was  the  most  sensible  of 
all  your  friends.  I've  wondered  a  good  many 
times  how  she  prospered." 

"  So  have  I.  I  mean  to  write  to  her  and  find 
out.  What  a  brave  girl  she  was,  and  how  ashamed 
I  used  to  feel  of  myself,  sometimes,  when  I  went 
to  see  her.  I  don't  think  my  life  is  worth  much 
to  the  world,  Cousin  Naomi." 

"  It's  worth  a  good  deal  to  some  people  in  the 
world,  and  if  there's  anything  of  much  account  in 
you,  you  may  be  sure  there'll  be  something  to 
draw  it  out.  You  don't  know  what's  before  you. 
It  wont  be  likely  to  be  all  smooth  sailing.  It's 
shallow  water,  where  the  waves  never  run  high." 

"  Don't  prophesy  evil,  Cousin  Naomi.  I'm  so 
happy.  Only  when  I  think  of  mamma,  I  am 
afraid  it  can't  always  last.  But  I  can  endure  any 
thing  if  I  can  only  keep  my  husband." 

"  Could  you  bear  poverty  with  him  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  know  I  could,"  was  the  quick  reply, 


280  All  for  Money. 

"  I  could  bear  anything,  so  long  as  I  was  sure  of 
him.  I  don't  think  I  deserve  to  be  so  happy  as 
he  makes  me.  You  don't  know  how  good  he  is." 

Here  the  conversation  ceased,  but  enough  had 
been  said  to  lead  Mrs.  Wyatt's  thoughts  in  an 
unwonted  direction. 

Her  uncle  was  a  mystery  to  her.  He  talked 
upon  subjects  of  general  interest,  while  she  was 
curious  to  know  of  his  own  life.  He  said  nothing 
of  his  wealth  ;  but  he  must  have  well  invested 
property,  else  he  could  not  live  as  he  did.  He 
had  seen  much  of  the  world.  He  knew  the 
emptiness  of  mere  show  and  pretence,  and  de 
spised  the  sham  which  passes  current  among  so 
many  as  real  and  substantial  good. 

He  studied  the  character  of  his  niece,  and 
seeing  much  of  which  she  had  not  herself 
dreamed,  hoped  better  things  of  her  than  she  had 
yet  achieved.  Her  husband's  business  he  de 
spised  ;  but  he  knew  how  strong  were  the  in 
ducements  to  engage  in  it,  when  money  was 
the  one  object  to  be  attained.  He  would  nofr 
condemn  the  man  without  a  hearing. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

A   REVELATION. 

S  Mrs.  Legrew  continued  an  invalid, 
Cousin  Naomi  occupied  the  position  of 
both  mistress  and  housekeeper  ;  and  it 
was  wonderful  to  see  how  the  more  genial  quali 
ties  of  her  nature  developed.  She  seemed  to  have 
lost  the  asperity  and  sharpness  of  manner  which 
had  sometimes  concealed  the  real  kindness  of  her 
heart.  Mr.  Parsons  treated  her  with  the  utmost 
respect,  and  seconded  every  plan  for  his  sister's 
comfort. 

Here  Milly  was  made  to  feel  the  influence  of 
different  principles  from  those  with  which  she  had 
been  familiar.  Her  uncle  was  a  religious  man, 
and  she  had  never  before  been  domesticated  in  a 
family  in  which  God  was  truly  honored.  She 
felt  something  l;ke  awe  as  she  listened  to  the 


2$  2  All  for  Money. 

morning  and  evening  devotions  ;  and  at  first  de 
clined  to  join  in  the  singing  which  was  a  part  of 
each  evening's  worship. 

"Where  did  you  learn  those  old  hymns?"  she 
one  day  asked  her  uncle. 

"  In  a  mission  chapel,"  he  replied.  "  I  ought 
to  have  learned  them  when  I  was  a  boy,  but  I 
was  differently  employed  then.  I  have  carried 
my  hymn  book  with  me  ever  since  it  was  given 
to  me  by  a  good  lady,  and  when  Cousin  Naomi 
came  here  I  found  she  had  one  like  it." 

"  I  never  saw  her  have  one  when  she  lived  with 
us." 

"  I  presume  not.  You  had  plenty  of  other 
songs,  but  nothing  can  ever  take  the  place  of 
these  dear,  old  hymns  with  me.  They  express 
just  my  feelings,  and  I  must  sing  something.  I 
used  to  play  the  piano  a  little,  but  I  was  out  of 
practice  a  good  many  years,  and  I  don't  take  it 
up  again  easily.  I  have  tried  some  of  these  tunes, 
but  I  can't  satisfy  myself  with  them." 

"  I  will  play  them  for  you,  uncle,"  said  Milly. 
"  I  ought  to  have  done  it  before." 


A  Revelation.  283 

"  Thank  you.  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  have  you, 
and  perhaps  you  will  sing  them  too." 

"  Certainly  I  will." 

Naomi  Dodge  paused  in  her  work  to  listen  to 
the  two  voices  with  their  harmonious  accompani 
ment  ;  and  smiled  as  she  thought  of  all  the  hap 
piness  to  be  garnered  in  this  house.  Leander 
Harvey  and  his  wife  were  expected,  and  she  was 
busy  in  making  preparations  for  their  reception, 
that  nothing  might  be  wanting  to  enhance  the 
pleasure  of  their  visit. 

In  his  own  home  the  gentleman  had  carefully 
refrained  from  tempting  his  brother-in-law  to 
the  use  of  intoxicating  liquor  ;  feeling  himself  the 
superior,  from  the  fact  that  he  could  indulge  in  a 
glass  of  wine  or  brandy  without  danger  of  drink 
ing  to  excess.  He  had  wondered  at  the  ready 
confidence  of  Mrs.  Legrew  and  her  cousin  ;  and 
objected  strongly  to  their  trusting  themselves 
with  the  stranger,  relative  though  he  was.  Since 
then  his  feelings  had  been  somewhat  modified, 
although  he  was  not  yet  prepared  to  vouch  for 
the  man  who  brought  no  vouchers  for  the  truth 
of  statements  which  might  well  be  doubted.  He 


2$ 4.  All  for  Money. 

was  now  glad  to  accept  the  invitation  which 
would  give  him  a  better  opportunity  to  judge 
what  manner  of  man  Russell  Parsons  might  be. 

"  I  waited  to  see  you.  Mamma  thought  I 
must,  and  I  am  learning  to  be  very  obedient, "said 
Milly  to  her  Uncle  Harvey,  soon  after  his  ar 
rival. 

"  I  am  glad  if  you  are  learning  the  lesson,  even 
at  this  late  day,"  was  replied.  "  You  have  been 
a  spoiled  child  all  your  life.  I  am  afraid  your 
husband  has  never  insisted  upon  his  right  to  your 
obedience,  as  I  warned  him  he  ought  to  do." 

"  What  an  idea  !"  exclaimed  the  young  wife, 
laughing  merrily.  "  He  wouldn't  think  of  such  a 
thing.  He  spoils  me  more  than  any  one  else 
ever  did.  I  wish  he  was  here  to  answer  for 
himself.  Uncle  Russell  hasn't  seen  him  yet,  and 
I  am  anxious  they  should  meet.  How  strange 
that  I  never  knew  I  had  such  an  uncle.  I  am  so 
glad  he  has  come  back.  He  is  very  kind  to 
mamma.  She  is  happier  with  him  than  she  could 
be  with  any  one  else." 

"  But  her  health  doesn't  seem  to  be  improv- 
ing." 


A  Revelation. 


"  No,  sir.  The  doctor  says  we  can't  expect 
that  ;  though  she  may  live  for  years.  Poor  ma 
ma  !  She  was  never  very  strong.  I  hope  she 
will  be  able  to  spend  the  evening  with  us." 

"  I  hope  she  will.  I  suppose  we  shall  have 
some  music  from  the  grand  piano." 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  from  Uncle  Russell  too.  He 
has  a  remarkably  fine  voice,  and  he  loves  music 
as  well  as  I  do.  Mamma  sings  a  little  sometimes, 
and  then  we  have  quite  a  concert.  I  wish  Her- 
mon  was  here  to  enjoy  it,  but  he  thinks  he  can't 
leave  his  business.  I  tell  him  I  hope  he  will 
make  his  fortune  before  he  is  an  old  man,  so  that 
we  can  enjoy  some  leisure  together." 

"  He  is  in  a  fair  way  to  make  his  fortune,  and 
take  good  care  of  his  little  wife  at  the  same  time. 
Your  husband  is  doing  splendidly." 

"  There  —  that's  my  word,  uncle.  I  think  Her- 
mon  is  a  splendid  man,  anyway.  You'll  begin  to 
laugh  at  me  if  I  stay  much  longer,  and  I  must 
look  after  Aunt  Sarah.  She  hurried  away  to 
mamma's  room  so  quick,  I  have  hardly  seen  her. 
Uncle  Russell  is  waiting  for  an  opportunity  to 
talk  with  you.  He  is  coming  this  way." 


286  All  for  Money. 

Mr.  Parsons  had  not  been  unmindful  of  his 
guests,  but  it  was  necessary  that  he  should  give 
some  instructions  to  a  workman,  and  he  had 
depended  upon  his  niece  to  entertain  Mr.  Harvey. 
He  entered  the  room  as  Milly  left,  and  addressed 
some  remark  to  his  brother-in-law,  who  responded 
courteously,  adding,"  You  have  a  fine  place  here." 

"I  think  it  is,"  the  host  replied.  "  I  consider 
myself  fortunate  in  having  found  it  for  sale.  I 
should  enjoy  it  more  if  I  had  built  it  up  year  by 
year,  but  at  my  time  of  life  it  didn't  seem  best  to 
begin  at  the  foundation  stone.  This  suits  me 
very  well  as  it  is.  It  commands  a  fine  prospect, 
and  we  have  agreeable  neighbors." 

"  This  is  the  finest  house  in  the  neighborhood," 

"  Yes,  sir,  much  the  finest.  The  former  owner 
was  ambitious  to  outshine  his  town's  people,  but 
he  neglected  to  sit  down  and  count  the  cost 
before  beginning  to  build." 

"That  is  the  way  with  many  men,"  remarked 
Mr.  Harvey. 

"  And  women  too,"  said  his  companion. 
"They  desire  a  certain  good,  and  resolve  to 
obtain  it  at  any  cost.  Contentment  with  godli- 


A  Revelation.  287 

ness  are  what  the  world  most  needs.  Having 
these,  and  one  friend  who  can  be  implicitly 
trusted,  a  man  may  count  himself  rich  beyond 
the  possibility  of  becoming  poor.  That  is  my 
belief.  Perhaps  you  think  differently." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  about  that.  Content 
ment  is  a  desirable  quality  ;  and  when  I  was  a 
boy,  my  mother  taught  me  that  godliness  was 
profitable  unto  all  things.  Since  then  the  world 
has  taught  me  otherwise,  but  I  have  no  doubt 
that  my  good  old  mother  was  right." 

"  Your  experience  Differs  from  mine.  The  world 
has  taught  me  what  your  mother  taught  j>0#,  and 
I  pray  God  I  may  never  forget  the  lesson." 

"  But  you  have  acquired  more  substantial 
riches,  Brother  Parsons." 

"  Not  more  substantial.  More  tangible,  per 
haps,  while  they  are  mine,  but  never  half  so  real. 
Of  all  a  man  dares  call  his  own,  material  wealth 
is  the  most  unsatisfying  and  fleeting." 

"  And  yet  you  have  labored  to  acquire  it." 

"  That  is  true,  but  my  heart  was  never  set  upon 
it  as  a  chief  good.  I  have  been  diligent  in  busi 
ness,  while  I  trust  I  feared  the  Lord.  I  never 


288  All  for  Money. 

engaged  in  any  avocation  on  which  I  could  not 
ask  God's  blessing,  and  I  gave  to  others  of  my 
abundance.  I  had  a  strong  motive  urging  me  to 
diligence.  I  looked  forward  to  coming  home, 
and  I  wished  to  come  so  that  my  relatives  would 
be  willing  to  receive  me.  I  remembered  that 
money  was  a  passport  to  their  favor.  I  could 
live  very  humbly,  and  yet  be  happy.  The  hap 
piest  year  of  my  life,  I  lived  in  one  room  and  was 
my  own  housekeeper." 

"  You  must  have  a  faculty  for  making  yourself 
comfortable  which  few  people  possess." 

"  Comfort  goes  by  contrast,  and  I  was  thank 
ful  for  any  place  where  I  had  a  right  to  be.  That 
one  room  was  more  to  me  than  this  whole  house 
is  now.  It  was  there  I  began  a  new  life  :  and 
putting  the  past  behind  me  so  far  as  I  could, 
reached  forward  to  the  future.  It  was  a  small 
beginning,  but  the  Lord  blessed  me." 

With  some  people,  this  constant  reference  to 
God  would  have  seemed  to  Mr.  Harvey  mere 
hypocritical  cant  ;  yet  here  there  was  no  mistak 
ing  the  reverent  sincerity  of  the  speaker. 

"I  think  I  can  understand  your  feelings  to  a 


A  Revelation-,  289 

certain  extent,  Brother  Parsons.  The  first  thou 
sand  dollars  I  managed  to  save  was  more  to  me 
than  fifty  thousand  would  be  now.  One  reason 
of  this,  it  was  the  promise  of  more  to  come,  as 
your  one  room  was  the  promise  of  an  elegant 
mansion." 

"  Hardly  like  that,"  said  the  host,  in  reply  to 
his  guest,  who  had  not  come  nigh  to  the  deep  ex 
perience  which  gave  significance  to  this  small 
beginning.  "You  can  have  little  idea  of  what 
it  promised  to  me.  When  I  had  paid  the  rent  of 
my  room  for  a  month,  and  bought  a  few  articles 
of  second-hand  furniture,  I  had  but  ten  cents  left 
in  my  pocket,  and  I  didn't  know  where  I  could 
get  an  hour's  work,  except  in  the  saloon  where  I 
had  been  employed  the  last  six  months  ;  and  I 
would  have  starved  rather  than  go  there.  I 
speak  advisedly,  too,  for  I  know  what  it  is  to 
suffer  the  pains  of  hunger." 

"  You  have  had  a  chequered  life,"  was  remarked. 

"  Truly  I  have,  and  my  last  days  will  prove 
my  best  days.  I  have  that  within  me  which  no 
man  can  take  from  me." 

"  I  am   very  glad    you    are    so    prosperous," 


290  All  for  Money. 

replied  Mr.  Harvey.  "  I  am  very  glad,  too,  that 
Sister  Millicent  can  be  with  you.  She  has  been 
unfortunate,  and  her  old  home  seems  to  have  lost 
all  attractions  for  her.  The  gentleman  now  oc 
cupying  her  house  has  offered  to  purchase  it, 
with  the  furniture,  if  she  wishes  to  sell.  I  received 
a  letter  from  him  yesterday  in  regard  to  it,  and  I 
presume  she  will  do  as  you  advise  her." 

"  I  am  not  sure  that  I  know  how  to  advise  her. 
She  is  not  much  accustomed  to  business  herself. 
I  should  trust  Cousin  Naomi's  judgment,  and  I 
think  Millicent  would.  It  will  make  but  little 
difference  with  her.  While  she  lives  I  shall  have 
a  care  for  her,  and  she  will  probably  never  have 
sufficient  health  to  engage  in  fashionable  gayeties 
as  she  has  done." 

"  I  had  hoped  she  would  be  better." 

"  She  is  better  than  when  she  came  here,  and 
since  Milly  came  she  is  more  cheerful  than  I  have 
seen  her  before  since  my  return." 

"  Milly  always  carries  sunshine  with  her  where- 
ever  she  goes.  She  seems  like  a  daughter  to  me. 
Perhaps  you  know  she  was  with  us  most  of  the 
time  for  a  year  and  a  half  before  she  was  married." 


A  Revelation.  291 

"Cousin  Naomi  told  me." 

"  And  did  she  tell  you  the  cause  of  the  es 
trangement  between  Milly  and  her  mother?" 

"  She  did,  and  it  seems  to  me  Millicent  must 
have  been  insane  to  desire  Dan  Esterbrook  as  a 
son-in-law.  If  she  had  known  as  much  of  him 
as  I  did  thirty  years  ago,  she  would  have  felt  his 
very  presence  to  be  an  insult." 

"  Then  you  knew  the  villain." 

"  I  did,  and  I  have  reason  to  remember  him. 
There  are  some  wrongs  for  him  to  right  before  he 
dies.  A  worse  criminal  than  he  never  cheated 
the  gallows  of  its  due.  It  is  more  than  twenty- 
five  years  since  I  saw  him,  but  I  should  recognize 
his  ugly  face  anywhere.  There  can't  be  another 
like  it  in  the  wide  world." 

"  He  is  immensely  rich." 

"  I  should  expect  he  would  be.  A  man  as 
unscrupulous  as  he,  with  just  the  amount  of 
shrewdness  and  low  cunning  that  he  possesses, 
is  sure  to  be  rich,  if  he  can  once  succeed  in  laying 
the  foundation  of  a  fortune.  If  he  can  manage  to 
get  together  a  few  thousand  dollars,  he  will  find 
plenty  of  opportunities  for  increasing  the  sum. 


292  All  for  Money. 

It  makes  no  difference  how  he  does  it.  His 
conscience  is  never  in  the  way." 

"  If  Dan  Esterbrook  ever  had  a  conscience,  it 
was  burned  to  death  years  ago." 

"  Not  burned  to  death,  but  seared,  Brother 
Harvey.  So  sure  as  God  reigns,  it  will  yet  assert 
itself.  I  hear  that  the  villain  has  maintained  a 
position  in  society." 

"  His  money  purchased  all  the  position  he  has 
ever  had.  Money  will  do  almost  anything  in  this 
country." 

"  The  more  shame  to  us  that  it  will.  The 
inordinate  greed  of  gain  for  \vhich  our  nation  is 
proverbial,  is  one  of  our  greatest  misfortunes. 
The  love  of  money,  and  the  love  of  strong  drink, 
will  degrade  and  demoralize  the  finest  nature." 

"  But  you  would  not  choose  poverty." 

"  No,  Brother  Harvey  ;  I  would  not.  I  like  to 
have  beautiful  things  about  me,  such  as  I  couldn't 
have  without  money  to  buy  them  ;  and  I  want  to 
help  others  more  than  I  could  if  I  was  a  poor 
man.  But  for  all  that,  my  happiness  does  not 
depend  upon  riches." 

"  Cousin  Naomi  will  agree  with  you.     She  is  a 


A  Revelation. 


good  calculator,  and  she  has  quite  a  little  for 
tune  ;  but  she  always  insists  that  if  people  look 
upon  life  as  they  should,  they  can  be  comfortable 
with  very  little  money." 

"  She  is  right.  But  when  children  are  brought 
up  to  think  that  only  the  wealthy  are  worthy  of 
respect,  you  must  expect  them  to  have  false 
ideas  of  life.  If  I  had  offered  Millicent  a  home 
in  a  cottage,  she  would  have  thought  herself 
abused;  and  I  presume  my  niece  would  think  it  im 
possible  for  her  to  live  in  a  close,  economical  way.'' 

"  /  should  think  it  impossible  for  her  to  do  it. 
1  should  never  allow  it.  Fortunately,  there  is  no 
danger  of  such  a  calamity.  Hermon  Wyatt  is 
well  established  in  a  lucrative  business." 

Mr.  Parsons  made  no  answer  to  this  last 
remark.  His  cousin  called  to  him,  and  he  has 
tened  to  join  her. 

"  What  I  feared,  has  happened,"  she  said  in  a 
low  tone.  "  Millicent  has  been  drinking  wine,  or 
brandy,  and  is  insensible.  Milly  thinks  her 
mother  is  very  sick  ;  but  it  is  the  same  old  story. 
Sarah  must  have  brought  the  liquor,  and  there  is 
more  somewhere." 


All  for  Money. 


"  I  will  see  that  no  more  is  drank.  Please  tell 
Sarah  that  I  wish  to  see  her  in  the  library 
alone." 

The  lady  came  as  requested,  looking  a  little 
anxious,  and  by  no  means  at  ease  in  the  presence 
of  her  brother. 

"  Millicent  is  prostrated  again,"  he  remarked. 

"  Yes,  she  is.     I  thought  she  was  stronger." 

"  You  brought  her  a  case  of  liquors." 

"  I  brought  nothing  but  what  she  wished  me  to 
bring." 

"  I  suppose  not.  But  her  wishes  were  not  to  be 
regarded  in  this  matter.  You  should  have  con 
sulted  Cousin  Naomi  before  giving  her  any 
stimulant.  You  have  done  us  all  an  injury." 

"I  shall  not  consult  other  people  to  know  what 
I  may  do  for  my  own  sister,"  responded  Mrs. 
Harvey  haughtily. 

"  She  is  my  sister  as  well  as  yours,  Sarah,  and 
she  is  in  my  house.  There  has  been  one  drunkard 
in  our  family.  It  is  not  desirable  that  there 
should  be  another." 

"  Russell  Parsons,  you  forget  yourself,"  ex 
claimed  his  sister. 


A  Revelation. 


"  Never,"  he  replied  emphatically.  "  I  never 
forget  myself.  I  have  too  good  reason  to  re 
member.  I  am  sorry  to  seem  severe,  or  do 
anything  which  seems  inhospitable.  It  will  be  a 
grief  to  me  to  have  you  feel  unkindly  towards  me, 
but  there  must  not  be  a  drop  of  intoxicating 
liquor  in  this  house  another  hour.  Can  you  tell 
me  where  to  look  for  what  you  brought  ?" 

"  Millicent  took  it,"  answered  the  woman, 
whose  face  had  alternately  flushed  and  paled 
while  her  brother  was  speaking. 

"  Is  it  in  her  room  ?" 

"I  think  so." 

"  And  she  is  intoxicated." 

"  I  think  she  drank  more  than  she  intended." 

"  Then  you  know  that  she  craves  it.  You 
knew  that  when  your  brought  it." 

"  I  didn't  know  what  I  know  now,  Brother 
Russell.  But  you  must  be  mistaken,"  added  the 
sister  quickly  ;  thus  seeking  to  retract  the  con 
fession  implied  in  her  last  words. 

"  I  am  not  mistaken,"  was  the  reply.  "  Cousin 
Naomi  cannot  be  mistaken.  Millicent  was  in 
toxicated  more  than  once  during  the  week  I 


2g6  All  for  Money. 

spent  in  your  home.  I  know  it  sounds  harsh  to 
say  that,  but  it  is  true,  Sarah  ;  and  I  have  no 
doubt  from  appearances  that  the  habit  has  been 
indulged  in  for  years.  It  has  helped  to  under 
mine  her  health,  and  render  her  irritable  and 
dissatisfied." 

"  I  never  thought  of  such  a  thing,  and  now  I 
hardly  believe  it,"  said  Mrs.  Harvey.  "  Cousin 
Naomi  is  reliable  authority  in  most  matters,  but 
she  is  fanatical  in  this." 

"  You  are  mistaken,  sister.  She  has  thought 
very  little  about  it.  She  is  beginning  to  look  at 
the  drinking  habits  of  the  community  in  their 
true  light,  I  trust.  I  have  talked  with  her,  and  as 
I  speak  from  experience,  I  can  speak  with  autho 
rity.  Millicent  cannot  probably  live  many  years, 
but  she  must  not  die  a  drunkard." 

"  How  can  you  speak  so  !  As  if  it  were  possi 
ble  for  her  to  sink  so  low  !" 

"  Many  a  woman  has  done  it.  Many  a  one  as 
fair  and  delicate  as  she  has  gone  down  to  a 
drunkard's  grave.  Drunkenness  is  not  confined  to 
the  men  of  our  land.  Would  God  it  was  !  Then 
might  we  hope  soon  to  banish  it." 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

AN  UNEXPECTED  MEETING. 

ILLY  WYATT  went  to  her  mother's 
room,  and  seeing  at  a  glance  the  pros 
tration  which  had  so  often  alarmed  her, 
she  hastened  to  Cousin  Naomi. 

"  Why,  mamma  is  just  as  she  used  to  be  some 
times  at  Uncle  Harvey's,"  she  said,  in  an  excited 
tone. 

"  And  as  she  used  to  be  in  her  own  home,  too  ?" 
was  responded  questioningly. 

"  Yes,  only  I  never  saw  her  when  I  couldn't 
rouse  her  before.  Aunt  Sarah  says  she  is  asleep, 
but  I  am  afraid — " 

Milly  did  not  complete  the  sentence,  but  turn 
ing  abruptly,  sought  the  retirement  of  her 
chamber.  Until  that  moment  she  had  forgotten 
the  suspicions  induced  by  what  had  before  been 


298  All  for  Money. 

said  to  her  in  regard  to  the  use  of  wine.  All  her 
life,  she  had  been  accustomed  to  see  intoxicating 
liquors  used  moderately,  without  a  thought  that 
that  there  could  be  danger  or  wrong  in  so  doing. 
Now  she  would  not  rest  until  she  knew  the  whole 
truth. 

Composing  herself  as  best  she  could,  she  went 
in  search  of  some  one  who  would  tell  her  frankly 
what  she  wished  to  know.  Her  aunt  was  with 
her  uncle  in  the  library.  Cousin  Naomi  was  with 
her  mother,  and  she  watched  for  an  opportunity 
to  ask  the  question  which  trembled  upon  her  lips. 
At  length  this  opportunity  offered. 

"  Is  mamma  sick,  or  is  she  under  the  influence  of 
wine  ?"  The  woman  to  whom  she  thus  appealed 
hesitated  to  answer  ;  when  she  exclaimed  impa 
tiently,  "  You  must  tell  me.  I  have  a  right  to 
know.  I  am  not  a  child  to  be  deceived." 

"  No,  Milly,  you  are  a  woman.  But  you  know 
less  than  a  child  of  some  things.  If  your  aunt 
hadn't  given  your  mother  wine,  she  would  be  able 
to  spend  the  evening  with  you.  As  it  is,  she 
cannot.  Now  don't  ask  me  another  question.  If 
you  do,  I  sha'n't  answer.  When  we  have  time 


An   Unexpected  Meeting.  299 

we'll  talk  it  all  over,  but  there's  no  time  for  it 
now.  Not  another  word.  Go  to  your  Uncle 
Harvey  and  entertain  him.  We  can't  have  his 
visit  spoiled.  Will  you  attend  to  him  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  will.  But  poor  mamma  !  How  sad  it 
is  !  And  I  can  hardly  believe  it,  after  all." 

Mrs.  Harvey  came  out  from  the  interview  with 
her  brother  looking  pale  and  weary.  She  had 
been  obliged  to  lay  aside  the  haughty  conven 
tionalism  with  which  she  ordinarily  repelled  all 
unwelcome  subjects,  and  respond  unequivocally 
to  plain  statements  and  inquiries.  She  fulfilled 
her  promise.  The  case  of  liquors  was  placed  in 
Mr.  Parsons'  hands  and  nothing  more  was  seen 
of  it. 

This  unpleasant  episode  terminated,  the  host 
exerted  himself  for  the  entertainment  of  his 
guests.  With  music  and  intelligent  conversation 
the  evening  passed  pleasantly  ;  marked,  for 
those  who  witnessed  them  for  the  first  time,  by 
the  devotions  which  were  as  fitting  as  they  were 
impressive. 

Nothing  was  said  of  the  absent  one.  If  Mr. 
Harvey  suspected  the  cause  of  this  absence,  he 


All  for  Money. 


was  far  too  wise  to  betray  the  fact.  When  all 
others  had  left  the  parlor,  Mrs.  Wyatt  sat  down 
by  a  window,  through  which  the  moonlight  was 
streaming,  and  looked  out  upon  the  beautiful 
landscape.  It  was  like  her  life  —  fair,  peaceful, 
and  harmonious.  The  mountains,  steep  and  rug 
ged,  were  far  in  the  distance.  Would  her  feet 
ever  climb  them  ?  Would  she  ever  stand  upon 
their  summits  and  view  the  prospect  beyond  ? 
Now,  —  and  she  started  from  the  low  ottoman 
on  which  she  was  sitting,  as  some  one  ap 
proached. 

"  Uncle  Russell,  I  owe  you  an  apology  for 
being  here,"  she  said  in  some  confusion.  "  The 
moonlight  tempted  me,  and  I  forgot  that  I  ought 
to  be  in  my  own  room." 

"  There  is  no  reason  why  you  should  apologize 
to  me,"  was  his  reply.  "  I  wish  you  to  consider 
yourself  so  much  at  home  that  you  will  stay  in 
whatever  part  of  the  house  you  please.  I  knew 
you  were  here,  and  I  came  to  talk  with  you.  Will 
you  tell  me  of  what  you  were  thinking  ?" 

"  I  was  thinking  of  mamma  and  her  strange 
illness." 


An   Unexpected  Meeting.  joi 

"  I  supposed  you  might  be.  You  have  seen 
her  in  the  same  condition  before."' 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  several  times." 

"  And  you  thought  it  an  illness  produced  by 
disease." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  do  you  know  now  ?" 

"  I  am  afraid.  Please,  Uncle  Russell,  wijl  you 
tell  me  the  truth  ?  Was  it  the  wine  which  made 
her  as  she  was  ?" 

"  Yes,  my  dear,  it  was.  I  am  sorry  to  say  it, 
but  it  is  best  that  you  should  know.  You  thought 
me  unkind  because  I  forbade  her  the  use  of  stim 
ulants." 

"  Yes,  Uncle  Russell,  I  did.  I  thought  mam 
ma  knew  best  about  it.  But  I  see  now  that  you 
were  right,  and  I  beg  of  you  never  to  let  her 
have  another  drop.  Anything  but  that." 

"  She  shall  never  have  it  if  it  is  in  my  power 
to  prevent  it.  But  you  see  that  abstinence  from 
it  makes  her  restless  and  unhappy.  That  may 
seem  a  little  thing  to  you.  You  don't  know  how 
to  pity  her.  But  I  do.  The  torment  of  the  thirst 
for  intoxicating  drink  is  something  terrible.  No 


All  for  Money. 

words  can  describe  it.  It  is  so  unnecessary,  too, 
that  the  suffering  is  aggravated  by  an  accusing 
conscience.  Don't  indulge  in  the  habit  of  drink 
ing  wine,  I  beg  of  you." 

"  I  never  do,  Uncle  Russell,"  sobbed  out  his 
niece.  "  My  husband  would  be  troubled  if  I  did, 
and  I  never  cared  for  it.  But  poor  mamma  !  I 
am  so  sorry.  I  think  sometimes  I  ought  to  take 
her  to  live  with  me.  I  am  the  one  to  take  care 
of  her." 

"  In  doing  that  you  would  deprive  me  of  a 
great  pleasure.  I  consider  her  my  especial 
charge.  My  home  would  be  no  home  without 
her  and  Cousin  Naomi.  I  have  drifted  about  the 
world  so  long  that  I  am  thankful  for  anchorage. 
You  know  very  little  of  this  uncle  of  yours,  Milly." 

"  Very  little/'  she  replied,  adding  directly : 
"  I  wish  I  knew  more." 

"  My  story  is  too  sad  for  you  to  hear.  But  I 
Iwill  tell  you  what  wrought  my  ruin.  False  ideas 
of  what  constitutes  respectability  and  happiness, 
and  a  love  for  strong  drink.  The  first  I  acquired 
when  I  was  but  a  child,  the  second  before  I  had 
reached  manhood." 


An   Unexpected  Meeting.  joj 

"  Perhaps  I  have  false  ideas  of  respectability 
and  happiness,  Uncle  Russell." 

V  It  wouldn't  be  strange  if  you  have,  and  you 
could  hardly  be  blamed  for  them  either." 

The  clock  struck  twelve  before  Mrs.  Wyatt 
went  to  her  chamber,  and  and  even  then  she 
had  no  inclination  to  sleep.  The  morning,  how 
ever,  found  her  ready  to  do  her  part  towards  dis 
pelling  the  restraint  which  seemed  to  rest  upon 
the  household.  Her  mother  did  not  appear  at 
breakfast,  and  Cousin  Naomi  told  Tier  privately 
it  would  be  best  to  defer  her  usual  visit  until 
later  in  the  day. 

She  was  standing  upon  the  piazza,  from  which 
could  be  seen  an  extended  view  of  the  surround 
ing  country,  when  she  was  joined  by  her  Uncle 
Harvey.  Here  they  conversed  upon  indifferent 
subjects,  until  a  ray  of  sunlight  illumined  a  dis 
tant  scene  they  had  not  before  observed. 
|  "  What  a  lovely  spot  !"  exclaimed  the  lady 
admiringly. 

"  Where  is  it  ?"  asked  Mr.  Parsons,  appearing 
at  that  moment. 

"  I  was  looking  at  the  white  house  surrounded 


All  for  Money. 


with  trees  on  the  hill  side,"  she  replied,  pointing 
to  the  spot  thus  described. 

"  That  is  the  finest  situation  in  town,  take  it 
for  alV  in  all  ;  and  the  home  of  a  most  interesting 
family.  A  woman  owns  the  farm." 

"And  does  she  manage  it  herself?" 

"  Principally.  She  has  a  nephew  living  with 
her,  but  he  has  only  been  there  a  little  more 
than  two  years,  and  he  is  something  of  an  invalid 
besides.  He  has  a  wife  and  daughter,  so  there 
is  quite  a  family  in  all.  I  am  not  certain, 
Brother  Harvey,  but  you  would  drive  over  there 
for  a  glimpse  of  Lizzie  Dummer's  face,  if  you 
have  an  eye  for  beauty." 

"  I  always  had  an  eye  for  beauty  in  a  woman's 
face,"  was  the  laughing  reply. 

"  Lizzie  is  a  young  girl  about  seventeen  years 
of  age,  and  the  charm  of  her  beauty  is  that  she 
seems  unconscious  of  it.  Cousin  Naomi  has  taken 
a  great  fancy  to  her  and  her  aunt,  who  has 
enough  of  energy  to  make  her  a  kindred  spirit 
to  our  energetic  cousin." 

"We  must  see  these  paragons,  Milly,"  said 
Mr.  Harvey.  "Why  can't  we  drive  over  there 


An   Unexpected  Meeting.  305 

by  ourselves,  and  make  some  errand,  so  that  we 
shall  be  admitted  to  the  house  ?  We  might  stop 
and  ask  for  a  glass  of  milk." 

"  Better  ask  for  strawberries.  They  have  great 
quantities,  which  they  give  to  their  friends,  or 
sell  to  strangers." 

"  Then  we  can  buy  some,  Uncle  Harvey.  Do 
let  us  go." 

"I  should  like  nothing  better  if  there  is  a 
horse  at  our  disposal." 

"  One  horse,  or  two,  and  the  choke  of  car 
riages,"  replied  their  host.  "  I  can  give  you 
directions  so  you  will  be  in  no  danger  of  missing 
the  way,  and  we  who  remain  at  home  will  help 
you  dispose  of  your  strawberries  when  you 
return." 

The  morning  was  delightful.  Each  leaf  and 
blade  of  glass  was  gemmed  with  drops  of  dew  ; 
while  the  song  of  birds  filled  all  the  air,  waking  an 
echo  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  listened. 

"  How  glad  and  happy  every  living  creature 
seems,"  said  Milly. 

"  And  you,  I  hope,  are  happiest  of  all,"  re 
sponded  her  companion. 


jo6  All  for  Motiey. 

"I  have  enjoyed  the  drive.  I  left  behind  me 
everything  unpleasant." 

"  That  is  what  you  should  do.  Never  allow 
yourself  to  be  anxious  or  troubled.  Let  some 
one  else  do  the  hard  thinking,  and  the  hard 
work,  while  you  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  la 
bors." 

"  I  am  not  certain  I  ought  to  do  that,  uncle. 
I  am  afraid  I  have  done  it  too  long  already." 

"  Never  fear,  child.  I  will  answer  for  you. 
Don't  get  lines  of  care  in  your  face.  If  you  do  I 
shall  be  disheartened.  Your  husband  is  both 
able  and  willing  to  make  a  smooth  path  for  your 
feet,  and  there  is  some  one  to  care  for  your 
mother  better  than  you  could." 

"  I  know  it.  How  kind  Uncle  Russell  is,  and 
what  a  dear,  good  man  he  is.  It  don't  seem  pos 
sible  he  could  ever  have  been  bad." 

"  He  doesn't  appear  like  it,  and  it  is  best  to 
forget  the  past  for  him,  as  it  is  for  many  others. 
Few  people  in  the  world  but  have  sometimes 
done  what  they  are  sorry  for." 

"There  is  not  one,  uncle.  The  best  are  not 
perfect.  But  some  are  a  great  deal  worse  than 


An-   Unexpected  Meeting.  307 

others  ;  though  Uncle  Russell  says  it's  not  always 
those  we  call  the  worst  who  are  really  so." 

"  I  presume  he  is  right.  But  we  are  moralizing, 
and  that  is  out  of  order  such  a  morning  as  this. 
We  must  begin  to  think  of  our  business.  The 
next  house  is  where  we  are  to  stop,  and  if  you 
wish  to  negotiate  you  can  do  so." 

"  I  should  like  to  ;"  and  presently  Mrs.  Wyatt 
waited  at  an  open  door  for  a  response  to  the 
clang  of  the  heavy  brass  knocker. 

A  young  girl  stepped  lightly  through  the  long 
hall  ;  smiling  as  she  came,  and  uttering  the 
customary  greeting  in  a  low,  musical  voice.  The 
visitor  was  in  danger  of'forgetting  the  purpose  of 
her  call,  The  half  had  not  been  told  her  in  re 
gard  to  Lizzie  Dummer.  She  had  intended  to 
ask  for  strawberries  in  a  business-like  way,  as  she 
would  have  bargained  for  them  at  a  market  stall, 
but  she  could  not  do  this. 

•'My  uncle,  Mr.  Parsons,  told  me  it  was  a 
delightful  drive  from  his  house  here,  and  when  I 
had  come  so  far,  I  wished  to  stop." 

"  We  are  always  happy  to  see  Mr.  Parsons,  or 
his  friends,"  was  the  courteous  reply.  "  Please  to 


All  for  Money. 


come  in,  and  I  will  call  Aunt  Lucy.     We  have 
all  been  in  the  garden  this  morning." 

"  Please,  will  you  let  me  go  there  with  you  ? 
We  were  to  get  some  strawberries,  if  you  have 
them  for  us." 

"  Certainly  we  have.  Aunt  Lucy  wouldn't 
refuse  them  to  any  one  from  Mr.  Parsons." 

Fine  lady  manners  were  out  of  place  here,  and 
it  would  have  required  a  more  artificial  character 
than  Mrs.  Wyatt's  to  attempt  them.  She  fol 
lowed  her  guide  through  the  house  into  the  gar 
den  ;  which  was  not  a  small  patch  of  ground, 
with  here  and  there  a  few  vegetables  and  strag 
gling  vines,  but  a  garden  in  very  deed.  Here 
everything  was  grown  at  its  best,  while  the  sup 
ply  of  smalt  fruits  seemed  almost  inexhaustible. 

•'This  is  Mr.  Parson's  niece,  Aunt  Lucy,"  said 
Lizzie,  as  they  came  near  to  the  owner  of  this 
garden. 

"  Mr.  Parson's  niece,  I  am  very  glad  to  see 
you,"  was  the  hearty  and  amusing  welcome  given 
in  response.  "  I  am  Miss  Lucy  Dummer." 

"  And  I  am  Mrs.  Milly  Wyatt.  I  drove  over 
with  my  uncle,  Mr.  Harvey,  who  is  visiting  at 


An   Unexpected  Meeting.  309 

Uncle  R  assell's.  We  saw  your  place  from  the 
piazza,  this  morning,  and  it  looked  so  lovely  in 
the  sunlight,  that  we  wished  to  come  here.  Then 
we  were  wondering  what  excuse  we  could  make 
for  calling,  when  Uncle  Russell  told  us  we  might 
ask  for  strawberries." 

"  You  needn't  have  made  any  excuse,  Mrs. 
Wyatt.  We  are  plain  people,  alw-ays  glad  to  see 
our  neighbors  ;  and  such  a  morning  as  this 
enlarges  the  boundaries  of  a  neighborhood  great 
ly.  I  told  Lizzie  it  was  too  bad  to  be  looking 
down  to  the  beds,  when  we  ought  to  be  looking 
ofifto  the  hills.  But  you  didn't  come  over  alone." 

"  No,  ma'am.  My  uncle,  Mr.  Harvey,  is  wait 
ing  in  the  carriage." 

"  He  ought  not  to  wait  there  Joseph,  please 
go  and  invite  the  gentleman  to  come  here,  and 
then  take  care  of  his  horse.  He  is  a  friend  of 
Mr.  Parsons." 

At  this,  a  man  whose  face  Mrs.  Wyatt  had 
not  before  seen,  came  down  the  path  near  which 
she  was  standing  ;  and  as  he  passed,  was  intro 
duced  as  "  My  nephew,  Mr.  Dumrner."  A  little 
later,  Mrs.  Dummer  was  presented  to  the  lady, 


jio  All  for  Money. 

and  both  being  interested  in  the  berries  which 
lay  before  them,  red  and  luscious,  they  entered 
at  once  into  conversation. 

Directly,  Mr.  Harvey  appeared  ;  and  then 
there  was  an  animated  flow  of  words,  until  the 
party  seemed  like  old  friends,  rather  than  ac 
quaintances  of  an  hour.  When  the  guests 
departed,  they  carried  with  them  baskets  of 
carefully  selected  fruit,  for  which  their  hostess 
refused  to  be  paid. 

"  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Parsons,  and  am  glad 
to -make  him  some  return.  I  shouldn't  think  of 
your  giving  me  money,"  she  said,  with  a  decision 
which  could  not  be  gainsaycd. 

"Auntie,  do  you  suppose  that  beautiful  lady's 
husband  is  the  Mr.  Wyatt  we  used  to  know  ?" 
asked  Lizzie,  after  they  had  gone. 

"  Yes,  dear,  I  think  he  is.  I  heard  her 
call  him  Hermon,  and  she  lives  in  the  same 
city." 

"  Then  she  must  be  ;  but  she  can't  know  how 
bad  it  is  for  him  to  do  as  he  does.  She  looks  so 
good,  she  wouldn't  want  him  to  do  wrong,  and 
he  can't  help  loving  hsr  so  well  that  he'd  do 


An   Unexpected  Meeting. 


anything  to  please  her.  Don't  you  think  so  too, 
auntie  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  just  what  to  think,  but  I  feel 
sure  she's  the  wife  of  the  man  your  father  used 
to  work  for.  They're  a  handsome  couple.  I 
should  like  to  see  them  together." 

"Oh!  I  wish  he'd  come  here,  auntie.  Shouldn't 
we  be  glad  to  see  him  !  It  seems  as  though 
father  might  tell  him  about  it,  till  he  wouldn't 
sell  any  more  liquor." 

"  I  wish  somebody  could  do  it,  or  something 
happen  to  stop  him.  But  it  wouldn't  be  easy  to 
do  it.  It's  my  opinion  he  acted  against  his  con 
science  when  he  went  into  the  business  ;  and  he's 
been  growing  harder  ever  since.  It  will  take 
the  spirit  of  the  Lord  to  move  him,  and  that  may 
come  in  answer  to  prayer." 

"  Oh  !  I  hope  it  will,  and  I  hope  Mrs.  Wyatt 
will  come  here  again  before  she  goes  home.  I 
heard  her  say  she  wished  her  husband  was 
here." 

"  And  I  asked  her  if  she  was  expecting  him." 

"  And  is  she,  auntie  ?" 

"  She  said  she  had  written   to   him  to   come, 


All  for  Money. 


but  she  was  afraid  he'd  think  he  couldn't  leave 
his  business." 

Hermon  Wyatt  was  longing  for  the  presence 
of  his  wife,  when  he  received  her  letter,  and  de 
termined  at  once  to  accept  the  urgent  invitation 
it  contained.  He  was  curious  to  see  the  uncle, 
so  highly  praised,  and  besides,  he  was  by  no 
means  unwilling  to  spend  a  few  days  -in  the 
country. 

Mr.  Crown  was  not  so  reliable  as  he  had  been, 
yet  it  seemed  probable  that  the  man  might  be 
trusted  for  a  brief  length  of  time.  The  truth  was, 
this  confidential  clerk  began  to  show  the  effects 
of  hard  drinking  ;  and  some  mistakes  had  oc 
curred  which  his  employer  found  it  necessary  to 
rectify.  Recently,  however,  he  had  promised  to 
be  more  on  his  guard,  and  this  promise  was 
accepted  as  a  guaranty  for  the  future. 

Every  one  was  surprised  to  see  Mr.  Wyatt,  but 
his  welcome  was  sufficiently  cordial  to  repay 
him  for  some  sacrifice  in  the  way  of  business. 

"  Quite  a  family  reunion,"  said  Mr.  Harvey, 
looking  around  complacently. 

Next  to  being  the  possessor  of  wealth  himself, 


An    Unexpected  Meeting. 


it  pleased  him  that  his  relatives  and  friends 
should  be  prosperous  ;  and  here  there  was  no 
lack  of  prosperity  with  either  host  or  guest. 
Ye£  he  was  somewhat  troubled.  He  knew  that 
Mr.  Parsons  would  not  be  guilty  of  discourtesy  ; 
but  he  also  knew  that  if  certain  questions  came 
up  for  discussion  there  would  be  no  compromise 
of  principle  on  the  part  of  his  brother-in-law. 

The  morning  after  his  arrival,  Milly  invited  her 
husband  to  drive  with  her,  and  without  telling 
him  that  she  intended  to  call  upon  any  one, 
took  the  road  leading  to  Miss  Dummer's  farm. 

"  Isn't  it  delightful  here  ?"  she  asked,  as  they 
came  near  to  the  house. 

"  Everything  is  delightful  to  me  this  morn 
ing,"  he  replied  gallantly  and  truthfully. 

"  And  to  me  as  well  as  you,"  responded  the 
happy  wife.  ''  We  are  going  to  stop  here  for  a 
chat  with  the  nicest  people,  and  a  treat  of  the 
finest  strawberries  you  ever  saw.  I  was  here 
with  Uncle  Harvey  day  before  yesterday,  and 
Miss  Dummer  invited  me  to  come  again.  She 
saiJ  I  must  come  on  :e  and  eat  strawberries  with 
some  of  her  cream.  We  carried  them  all  home 


All  for  Money. 

before.  The  whole  family  are  out  in  the  garden, 
the  same  as  they  were  then,  and  we  can  go  there, 
without  waiting  to  knock."  . 

"  Wouldn't  it  be  better  to  wait  ?"  asked  jhe 
gentleman,  to  whom  the  name  of  Dummer 
brought  many  unpleasant  recollections. 

"  You  can  if  you  wish  to,"  was  Milly's  laugh 
ing  reply.  "  I  will  go  alone,  and  tell  them  you 
are  here  " 

"  I  was  thinking  of  you,"  said  Miss  Dummer,  as 
she  advanced  to  meet  her  visitor.  "We  have  a 
new  variety  of  strawberries  all  ready  for  picking 
this  morning.  You  have  come  at  the  right 
time." 

"  And  my  husband  came  with  me." 

"  I  am  very  glad  of  that.  Joseph,  Mr.  Wyatt 
drove  over  here  with  his  wife." 

"  I  will  take  care  of  his  horse,"  the  man  re 
plied,  and  then  walked  hurriedly  from  the  gar 
den. 

"  Mr.  Wyatt  !" 

"  Mr.  Dummer  !    Is  it  possible  ?" 

"  It  is  possible,  and  I  am  very  glad  to  see 
you." 


An   Unexpected  Meeting 


"  I  am  glad  to  see  you.  But  I  had  no  idea  I 
was  coming  into  your  vicinity  " 

"  This  is  Aunt  Lucy's  place." 

"  And  a  fine  place  it  is." 

"  Yes,  sir.  It's  been  a  fine  place  for  me  and 
mine.  I'm  not  the  man  I  was  v/hen  I  came 
here." 

"  Your  looks  tell  that.  You  have  taken  a  new 
lease  of  life." 

"  Yes,  sir,  thanks  to  you  and  Aunt  Lucy,  I 
have." 

"No  thanks  to  me,  Mr.  Dummer.  I  did  very 
little  for  you." 

"  You  did  more  for  me  than  any  one  else, 
except  my  aunt.  You  treated  me  like  a  man 
while  I  worked  for  you,  and  that  made  me  think 
that  perhaps  there  was  some  manhood  left  in 
me,  after  all." 

"  You  have  proved  that  there  A\ras  a  good  deal, 
and  I  am  glad  to  know  it.  You  have  my  best 
wishes  for  your  future." 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

CONSISTENCY. 

HERE  was  no  visible  change  in  Mr. 
Wyatt's  thoughts  and  purposes,  as  the 
result  of  the  meeting  with  his  old  em 
ployee.  After  his  return  from  the  country  he 
applied  himself  to  business  with  an  energy  which 
provoked  the  criticism  of  those  who  observed 
him.  He  was  ready  to  suggest  new  measures 
for  the  maintenance  and  protection  of  the  traffic 
in  which  he  was  engaged. 

The  influence  to  which  he  had  been  subjected, 
and  which  he  could  not  but  feel,  had  roused  in 
his  breast  a  spirit  of  opposition.  His  pride  had 
taken  alarm,  and  he  resolved  that  money  should 
place  him  in  a  position  to  command  the  silence, 
if  not  the  respect  of  those  who  now  condemned 


Consistency.  317 

him.  He  would  still  pursue  the  avocation  he 
had  chosen. 

The  profits  of  his  trade  were  enormous.  His 
ambition  tended  to  its  fulfilment.  He  was 
glad,  however,  that  Mr.  Dummer  had  reformed, 
and  he  was  scrupulous  to  hold  himself,  in  certain 
particulars,  strictly  to  the  terms  of  his  license. 

One  day  late  in  the  autumn  a  brother  merchant 
called  upon  him,  and  when  they  were  alone  to 
gether,  asked  abruptly  :  "  Does  my  son  patron 
ize  you  ?" 

"  I  think  I  have  seen  him  here  a  few  times," 
was  the  reply. 

"  I  thought  so.  I  know  he  bought  liquor  in 
quantity  some  where,  and  he  is  fastidious  about 
where  he  goes.  I  don't  know  how  long  he  will 
be,  but  I  hope  he  wont  get  so  low  as  to  be  seen 
in  a  groggery." 

"  I  hope  not.  I  have  always  considered  your 
son  an  honorable  man." 

"  I  used  to  consider  him  so  myself,  but  I  know 
him  better  now.  It's  a  terrible  thing,  Wyatt,  to 
see  one  of  your  own  flesh  and  blood  going 
straight  to  perdition.  My  son  has  started,  and 


318  All  for  Money. 

there  isn't  a  sot  in  the  city  who  loves  liquor 
better  than  he  does.  Where  he  acquired  such 
an  appetite  is  more  than  I  can  tell.  But  it  has 
almost  ruined  us  both,  and  I  refused  long  ago  to 
let  him  have  a  drop  from  my  store.  I've  come 
to  ask  you  not  to  sell  to  him.  He's  of  age,  and 
ought  to  be  capable  of  managing  his  own  affairs, 
but  he  isn't,  and  I  must  look  after  him.  I  pro 
mised  his  wife  I  would  come  here.  She  will 
leave  him  unless  something  can  be  done." 

"  He  shall  never  have  any  more  liquor  from 
this  store,  Mr.  Andross.  I  am  glad  you  came 
to  me,  and  I  wish  I  could  help  you  further. 
Your  son  is  too  much  of  a  man  to  ruin  himself 
in  that  way." 

"  I  know  it — I  know  it.     But  what  can  I  do  ?" 

What  could  he  do  ?  Were  not  other  sons  as 
dear  to  their  fathers  as  was  his  son  to  himself  ? 
Had  he  forgotten  a  note  received  from  a  lady 
only  a  few  days  before,  begging  him  tc  sell  no 
more  liquor  to  her  brother  ? 

He  lighted  his  cigar  with  this  note,  and  smiled 
at  the  folly  which  dreamed  that  such  a  prayer 
might  be  granted.  He  was  a  hard  man.  He  had 


Consistency. 


accumulated  a  large  property,  but  he  was  a 
beggar  in  every  noble  sentiment.  His  one 
vulnerable  point  was  his  love  for  his  only  son. 

He  could  not  tell  how  this  son  had  acquired  a 
love  for  strong  drink.  He  had  been  blind  to 
what  was  going  on  around  him,  while  he  was 
profoundly  ignorant  of  the  relations  of  cause  and 
effect.  He  was  considered  a  moderate  drinker 
himself  simply  because  he  could  imbibe  so  much 
without  being  overcome  by  its  effects. 

It  cost  him  an  effort  to  ask  the  favor  Mr. 
Wyatt  had  so  readily  granted  ;  and  judging  from 
his  own  conduct  under  somewhat  similar  circum 
stances,  he  doubted  of  his  success.  But  he  did 
not  doubt  that  the  promise  which  had  been 
made  would  be  sacredly  regarded. 

Not  long  after  this  the  son  called  at  the  corner 
store,  and  in  obedience  to  instructions,  was  shown 
into  the  presence  of  the  proprietor,  who  said  : 

"Mr.  Andross,  for  reasons  valid  to  me,  I  have 
decided  to  sell  you  no  more  goods." 

"  Why  not  ?"  was  asked  angrily. 

"I  have  no  fault  to  find  with  you,  but  I  must 
refuse  to  sell  to  you  ;  and  if  you  will  allow  me,  I 


All  for  Money. 


advise   you,  as  a  friend,  to  give  up  the    use   of 
liquor." 

"  You're  a  fine  man  to  give  such  advice  as  that. 
About  as  consistent  as  my  father,  who  mourns 
over  the  degeneracy  of  his  only  son.  Probably  I 
am  indebted  to  him  for  your  pious  decision.  You 
aren't  made  of  as  good  stuff  as  he  is.  If  you 
were,  you  wouldn't  have  lost  a  sixpence  for  the 
sake  of  gratifying  a  heart-broken  father.  He 
never  interferes  with  other  people's  business, 
unless  there's  a  prospect  of  making  something  by 
it.  You  need  to  take  lessons  of  him  before  you 
are  fully  qualified  for  your  business.  Will  you 
let  me  have  the  goods  I  came  to  purchase  ?" 

"  No,  Andross,  I  can't  do  it.  If  my  goods 
were  of  any  other  description  I  would." 

"  Then  what  do  you  keep  such  goods  for  !"  ex 
claimed  the  young  man,  emphasizing  his  question 
with  an  oath.  "  If  you  are  selling  poison,  why 
don't  you  advertise  yourself  as  a  vender  of  poi 
sons  ?  If  you  are  in  a  respectable  business,  why 
do  you  refuse  custom  when  it  is  offered  to  you  ? 
You  can  keep  your  liquors,  and  my  father  can 
keep  his,  but  I'm  not  a  boy  to  be  held  in  leading 


Consistency,  321 

strings.  One  place  is  as  good  as  another.  You'd 
better  shut  up  shop,  and  earn  an  honest  living 
by  selling  something  besides  fusil  oil  and  log 
wood.  You  see  I  know  what  the  stuff  is,  as  well 
as  you  do,  but  if  a  man  proposes  to  burn  himself 
up,  he  might  as  well  do  it  in  five  years  as 
fifty.  Consistency  is  a  jewel  I  never  heard  of  a 
rumseller  having  in  his  possession.  I  would 
suggest  that  you  attend  church  constantly,  and 
take  an  active  part  in  society  matters.  Good 
morning,  Mr.  Wyatt." 

This  last  was  a  severe  thrust.  Hermon  Wyatt 
was  always  in  his  pew  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
always  gave  liberally  whenever  a  contribution 
was  taken  up. 

Recently,  the  pastor  of  the  church  had  died, 
and  a  young  man  had  been  engaged  to  supply 
the  pulpit  during  the  next  few  months.  For 
some  reason  this  young  preacher  had  quite  cap 
tivated  his  liquor-selling  parishioner.  No  one 
was  more  anxious  that  he  should  remain,  and  no 
one  gave  him  more  cordial  greeting  whenever 
they  met. 

The  Sabbath  following  the  interview  I  have 


322  All  for  Money. 

described,  the  preacher  announced  as  his  text 
the  injunction  of  St.  Paul  :  "  Whatsoever  ye  do, 
do  all  to  the  glory  of  God." 

Then  looking  around  upon  the  congregation, 
he  said :  "  Not  one  present  but  believes  that 
they  who  have  publicly  taken  upon  themselves 
the  vows  of  God  are  under  obligations  so  to  live, 
that  whatever  they  do  shall  glorify  their  Lord 
and  King. 

"  My  friends,  the  same  Lord  rules  over  all,  and 
demands  of  all  the  same  consecration.  Has  any 
voice  whispered  to  you,  or  you,  or  you,  that  an 
exception  has  been  made  in  your —  Not  favor. 
Oh  !  no,  not  favor.  Who  would  stand  without 
the  pale  of  God's  government  ?  Would  you,  or 
you,  or  you  ? 

"Are  you  engaged  in  any  business  upon 
which  you  cannot  ask  God's  blessing  ?  Do  you 
transact  your  business  in  such  a  way  that  you 
would  feel  it  a  mockery  to  ask  God's  blessing 
upon  it  ?  If  so,  then,  my  friend,  you  stand  con 
demned. 

•  "  Have  you  defrauded  your  neighbor  of  his  just 
dues  ?  Have  you  taken  from  him  his  good 


Consistency.  323 

name  ?  Have  you  put  the  wine  cup  to  his  lips  ? 
Have  you,  for  gain,  sold  to  him  what  you  know 
will  ruin  him  soul  and  body?  Then  are  you  liv 
ing  in  open  rebellion  to  your  rightful  Sovereign, 
cind  one  day  he  will  call  you  to  stand  before  his 
throne,  and  listen  to  your  sentence  of  condem 
nation." 

Beside  Hermon  Wyatt  sat  his  wife,  and  be 
yond  her  was  his  niece  ;  the  Nell  to  whom  her 
father  had  rendered  so  loving  a  tribute  of  praise. 
She  had  come  from  her  western  home  in  response 
to  an  invitation  which  could  hardly  be  declined, 
accompanied  as  it  was  by  a  liberal  draft  to 
defray  her  expenses. 

The  question  of  her  going  had  been  earnestly 
discussed  by  parents,  brothers,  and  sisters,  until 
it  was  decided  that  she  should  go  ;  although  it 
seemed  hardly  possible  that  the  different  pur 
suits  and  pleasures  of  the  family  could  be  main 
tained  without  her.  She  might  be  of  service  to 
her  uncle's  wife  in  commencing  housekeeping ; 
an  1  with  an  independent  resolve  to  render  some 
equivalent  for  the  favors  she  would  receive,  she 
bade  her  loved  ones  farewell. 


324  All  for  Money. 

She  had  reason  to  expect  a  most  cordial 
reception  ;  but  in  this  her  expectations  were 
more  than  realized.  The  aunt  who  insisted  that 
she  was  "  only  Milly,"  welcomed  her  guest  with 
girlish  enthusiasm  ;  so  little  had  she  known  of 
the  cares  and  responsibilities  which  so  often 
transform  the  laughing  maiden  into  the  serious, 
half-saddened  woman.  Knowing  nothing  of 
housekeeping,  she  trusted  to  servants  who  had 
been  recommended  as  fully  qualified  to  do  the 
work  assigned  them. 

There  was  no  opportunity  for  Nelly  to  display 
her  accomplishments  as  a  housekeeper.  Nothing 
to  do  but  enjoy  herself,  and  practice  music  as 
much  as  she  pleased.  When  she  remonstrated 
against  such  idleness,  she  was  quickly  silenced 
by  arguments  and  appeals  to  which  she  could 
make  no  reply. 

Her  uncle  was  delighted  with  her.  He  had 
never  tired  of  the  society  of  his  wife,  but  it  was 
very  pleasant  to  see  two  fair  young  faces  light 
up  as  he  entered  his  home.  He  was  glad,  too, 
to  make  some  return  to  his  brother  George  for  the 
kindness  which  had  so  signally  failed  of  its  purpose. 


Consistency.  325 

He  was  now  so  identified  with  his  business 
that  he  fancied  he  could  easily  put  aside  any 
appeal  she  might  presume  to  make.  He  had 
even  persuaded  himself  that  his  vocation  was  an 
honorable  one. 

Were  not  many  professing  Christians  pursuing 
the  same  openly,  and  were  not  many  others 
sharing  its  profits,  while  holding  themselves 
aloof  from  whatever  odium  might  attach  to  it  ? 
Were  not  men  lauded  for  large  benefactions  of 
money  gained  by  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  ? 

He  had  been  surprised  at  the  truth  in  this 
matter,  and  wondered  at  the  inconsistency  of 
those  who,  professing  to  live  for  God  and  human 
ity,  made  the  accumulation  of  wealth  the  one 
purpose  of  their  lives.  He  condemned  such  mem 
as  hypocrites,  and  sneered  at  the  artifice  they 
practiced. 

He  believed  in  honest  dealing  with  one's  self 
as  well  as  others.  Were  he  a  Christian,  he  would 
at  once  renounce  a  traffic,  which  was,  at  best, 
the  outgrowth  of  an  unnatural  appetite  for  stim 
ulants  which  madden  the  brain  and  deaden  the 
conscience.  Because  he  was  not  a  Christian,  he 


326  All  for  Money. 

reasoned  that  he  was  at  liberty  to  do  what 
seemed  to  him  good. 

This  Sabbath  morning,  when  with  eyes  fixed 
upon  the  face  of  the  preacher,  he  listened  to  the 
remarks  and  questions  I  have  quoted,  he  felt  that 
he  was  personally  addressed. 

There  might  be  others  in  the  house  more 
guilty  than  himself,  yet  he  was  verily  guilty  of 
the  sins  enumerated. 

Ask  God's  blessing  upon  his  business  !  Never  ! 
Ask  God's  blessing  upon  the  adulteration  with 
poisons  and  potent  acids  !  Never !  It  would  be 
mockery.  It  would  be  blasphemy  of  which  he 
could  never  be  guilty. 

For  a  moment,  he  was  angry  at  having  been 
chosen  as  an  example  to  point  an  illustration  ; 
but  as  the  sermon  proceeded,  his  anger  died  out 
in  a  profound  sense  of  his  own  ill-deserts. 

His  niece  was  enthusiastic  in  her  admiration  of 
the  entire  service.  In  all  her-life  she  had  heard 
nothing  which  so  nearly  realized  her  idea  of  the 
presentation  of  gospel  truth.  It  was  plain  and 
simple,  while  grand  and  uncompromising. 

"  Then  you  think  the  man  who  makes  no  pre- 


Consistency.  327 

tension  to  being  a  Christian  is  under  as  much 
obligation  to  live  a  consecrated  life  as  his  neighbor 
who  is  a  member  of  the  church  ?"  remarked  Mr. 
\Vyatt  to  Nelly,  who  had  been  speaking  of  the 
sermon. 

"Yes,  sir,  in  a  certain  sense,  I  do.  The  ten 
commandments  are  binding  upon  both,  and  in 
obeying  them,  God  is  glorified.  Do  you  believe, 
Uncle  Hermon,  that  any  person  has  ever  lived 
who  was  not  under  the  most  sacred  obligations 
to  obey  the  moral  law  ?" 

"  Of  course  I  don't,  Nelly.  I  believe  the  Bible, 
although  I  don't  profess  to  live  according  to  its 
doctrine. —  You  liked  the  singing,"  he  added, 
unwilling  to  pursue  further  the  subject  under 
consideration. 

"  Indeed  I  did.  I  could  hardly  forget  it  while 
the  minister  was  preaching.  The  anthem  was 
glorious.  I  never  heard  it  before,  but  some  of 
the  strains  seemed  familiar  to  me." 

Having  said  this,  she  went  to  the  piano,  and 
gliding  her  fingers  over  the  keys,  played  a  soft 
accompaniment  to  some  disconnected  strains 
sung  in  a  rich  contralto  voice. 


J28  All  for  Money. 

"  Why,  that  is  an  improvement  upon  the  orig 
inal,"  exclaimed  her  uncle.  "  You  really  surprise 
me.  I  must  invite  my  boys  here  some  evening 
and  treat  myself  to  a  parlor  concert.  I  havn't 
told  you  about  my  boys,  but  you  shall  see 
them.  Milly  thinks  they  are  prodigies,  and 
they  think  she  is  an  angel.  One  of  them  is 
taking  lessons  on  the  piano,  and  the  other  is 
learning  to  play  the  violin." 

"  But  who  are  they,  Uncle  Hermon  ?" 

"  Two  poor  boys,  who  were  regular  street 
Arabs  when  I  first  saw  them  :  one  grinding  an 
organ  and  the  other  beating  a  tambourine. 
They  sang  some  simple  songs,  and  depended 
for  their  living  upon  what  people  gave  them. 
Milly,  I  was  just  telling  Nelly  about  my  boys," 
added  the  gentleman  as  his  wife  came  into  the 
room.  "  We  must  invite  them  here  some  even 
ing." 

"So  we  must.  I  know  you  will  be  delighted 
with  them,  Nelly.  And  to  think  what  they  were  ! 
I  don't  see  how  any  one  can  live  as  they  used 
to." 

"  You  don't  see  how  any  one  can  live  without 


Consistency.  329 

being  surrounded  with  luxury,"  said  Mr.  Wyatt, 
smiling  upon  the  speaker  indulgently. 

"  No,  I  don't,"  she  answered.  "  Perhaps  I 
could  learn.  Others  have,  and  I  suppose  I  could. 
Cousin  Naomi  says  it  would  be  a  good  discipline 
for  me  to  be  the  wife  of  a  poor  man.  I  don't 
know  how  it  would  seem,  but  Nelly  wouldn't 
mind  it  much." 

"Not  if  the  man  was  good,  honorable,  ener 
getic,  and — " 

"  So  much  in  love  with  you,  that  he  would 
consider  it  his  highest  happiness  to  make  you 
happy." 

"  Yes,  uncle,  that  would  be  an  indispensable 
qualification  ;  and  it  would  be  equally  indispen 
sable  that  I  should  return  his  love  in  full  meas 
ure,"  replied  the  laughing  girl. 

"  Heaven  send  you  such  a  husband,  with  plenty 
of  money,  to  give  you  the  home  you  deserve." 

"  It  wouldn't  require  very  much  money  to  lay 
the  foundation  of  a  home,  and  after  the  founda 
tion  is  laid,  I  can  help  to  build  it  myself.  That 
is  the  way  we  western  people  do.  Poverty  is  no 
disgrace  with  us." 


33°  All  for  Money. 

"It  ought  not  to  be  considered  a  disgrace 
anywhere,  but  you  must  acknowledge  that  it  is  a 
great  inconvenience." 

"  Sometimes  it  is,  but  then  there  is  so  much 
the  more  pleasure  in  making  things  do,  and  con 
triving  to  get  the  most  comfort  out  of  what  you 
have." 

"  But  the  raw  material  must  be  provided  in 
some  way." 

"I  know  it  must,  and  that  we  earn  by  honest 
work.  You  see,  uncle,  the  oldest  daughter  in  a 
family  of  nine  children,  where  there  is  never  a 
surplus  of  money,  needs  to  understand  economy, 
and  make  that  economy  attractive." 

"  And  that  is  one  of  your  accomplishments,  is 
it,  Nelly." 

"I  have  credit  for  it  at  home,  but  I  presume 
Milly  would  think  my  plans  very  homely." 

"  Nothing  could  be  homely  you  would  do,  and 
I  am  beginning  to  think  people  might  be  much 
happier  and  more  independent,  if  they  cared  less 
for  money.  I  know  a  great  many  women  marry 
for  money,  when  they  almost  hate  the  men  they 
accept  for  husbands.  Uncle  Russell  says,  too, 


Consistency. 


that  men  do  what  they  know  to  be  dishonorable 
and  mean,  just  for  the  sake  of  getting  rich.  So  I 
don't  see  how  they  can  blame  the  women  for 
thinking  so  much  of  money.  But  I  should  rather 
live  ever  so  plainly,  and  not  have  a  new  dress 
once  in  six  months,  than  have  my  husband  act 
dishonorably." 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

RIGHT  AT  LAST. 

EAR  old  Mother  Souther  was  so  happy 
with  her  boys,  she  seemed  to  have 
taken  a  new  lease  of  life.  The  one 
room,  with  its  adjoining  closet,  had  been  long 
ago  exchanged  for  more  comfortable  apartments 
in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  where  air  and  sun 
shine  came  to  them  as  freely  as  to  the  proudest 
dwellers  in  the  land.  It  reminded  her  of  her  old 
home,  and  gradually  she  gathered  around  her 
many  of  the  comforts  to  which  she  had  been 
accustomed  in  other  days. 

Davy  and  Ally  were  as  thoughtful  for  her  as 
though  she  was  their  mother,  and  as  they  had 
assumed  her  name,  strangers  supposed  them  to 
be  her  grandsons.  They  were  all  she  had  in  the 
wide  world,  and  she  gave  them  of  her  best.  She 


Right  at  Last. 


taught  them  the  precepts  of  the  Bible,  and 
warned  them  against  evil  habits.  She  told  them 
her  own  story,  thus  enforcing  her  precepts. 

"  We've  seen  lots  of  drinking,  Mother  Souther," 
said  Davy,  the  first  time  she  talked  with  them  in 
regard  to  it.  "  It's  that  makes  folks  so  awful  poor. 
There  was  a  man  lived  in  the  garret,  over  where 
we  lived  with  the  old  woman,  that  they  said  had 
a  million  of  dollars  once.  You  wouldn't  think  it 
to  see  him  so  ragged  and  dirty,  but  it  might 
hrve  been  true." 

"  Yes,  it  might,"  replied  Mrs.  Souther. 
"  There  aint  anything  so  strange  about  it  but 
what  I  could  believe  it.  It's  all  dreadful,  and  I 
pray  God  you  and  Ally  never'll  taste  the  cursed 
stuff." 

"  We  sha'n't,  Mother  Souther.  You  needn't 
be  afraid  of  that.  We  did  once,  and  it  made  us 
awful  sick,  and  we  most  froze  to  death,  and  didn't 
know  where  we  was  for  ever  so  long.  'Twas 
the  worst  time  we  ever  had." 

"  How  came  you  to  do  it  ?" 

"  We  didn't  exactly  know  what  we  were  doing. 
And  then  we  were  so  bad  off,  we  didn't  care  much 


334  All  for  Money. 

if  \ve  could  only  be  warm.  'Twas  most  night 
one  day,  when  there  hadn't  anybody  give  us  a 
cent,  and  we  hadn't  had  anything  to  eat,  except 
some  potato  skins  we  picked  out  of  an  ash  heap  ; 
and  a  man  on  a  back  street  told  us  if  we'd  help 
him  clean  up  his  store,  he'd  give  us  spme  supper. 
So  we  went  to  work,  and  did  everything  he  told 
us  ;  but  when  we  got  done,  he  give  us  some 
crackers,  and  told  us  that  was  all  we'd  get, 
except  something  hot  to  drink.  We  didn't  mind 
much  what  'twas.  We  drinked  it,  and  curled 
down  on  the  floor,  as  close  in  one  corner  as  we 
could  get.  Pretty  soon  we  both  of  us  felt  queer, 
as  though  we  were  going  to  be  sick,  and  we 
don't  remember  much  more  till  in  the  night. 
Then  Ally  come  to,  and  told  me  he  was  freezing. 
We  was  on  the  ground,  in  the  dirtiest  alley  you 
can  think  of.  The  man  we  worked  for  threw  us 
out.  He  didn't  care  whether  we  lived  or  died. 
He  kept  a  groggery,  and  of  course  he  was  wicked." 

"  Mother  Souther,  aint  it  awful  wicked  to  sell 
stuff  that  makes  folks  drunk  ?"  asked  Ally. 

"  Yes,  it  is  one  of  the  wickedest  things  a  man 
can  do." 


Right  at  Last. 


"  Well,  don't  Mr.  Wyatt  sell  it  ?" 

"  Yes,  he  does,  and  it  makes  me  feel  bad  every 
time  I  think  of  it.  He'd  be  a  great  deal  better 
man  if  he  wouldn't.  I'm  praying  the  Lord  to 
show  him  how  wrong  it  is,  and  I'm  going  to  keep 
on  praying  as  long  as  I  live." 

More  than  two  years  had  gone  by  since  this 
conversation,  and  still  Hermon  Wyatt  remained 
the  friend  of  these  boys,  and  the  woman  who 
made  for  them  a  home. 

He  advised  them  in  regard  to  study  ;  intro 
duced  them  to  an  evening  school  ;  and  when 
they  had  made  some  proficiency,  found  situations 
for  them,  where  they  would  improve,  while 
earning  wages  which  seemed  to  them  munifi^ 
cent. 

Others,  too,  became  interested  in  them.  A 
music  teacher  who  had  heard  Davy  sing,  and  who 
discovered  how  anxious  he  was  to  learn  to  play 
'a  keyed  instrument,  offered  to  give  him  lessons 
upon  the  piano.  Ally  managed  to  purchase  a 
violin,  and  was  doing  his  best  to  charm  the  spirit 
which  lurked  within. 

Their   singing   was   a   passport   to   favor,   and 


ll  for  Money. 


after  Mr.  Wyatt's  marriage,  they  had  occasionally 
spent  an  evening  in  his  rooms.  But  during  all 
the  time  they  had  known  him,  he  had  never 
invited  them  to  enter  his  store.-  When  he  was 
asked  by  the  acquaintance  to  whom  he  applied 
to  furnish  them  with  work,  why  he  did  not  hire 
them  himself,  he  said  at  once  that  he  had  no 
place  for  them. 

This  was  true  in  a  broader  sense  than  was  un 
derstood  by  the  questioner.  He  wished  Davy 
and  Ally  Souther  to  grow  up  strong,  pure,  and 
brave  ;  and  in  order  to  do  this,  he  knew  they 
must  acquire  a  knowledge  of  business  away  from 
the  contaminating  influence  of  intoxicating  liquor. 
All  this  came  back  to  him  as  he  talked  with  his 
niece,  and  as  his  wife  frankly  confessed  the  change 
which  had  been  wrought  in  her  feelings. 

Little  did  she  know  of  living  plainly,  and  dress 
ing  as  became  a  poor  man's  wife  ;  but  since  her 
visit  to  the  country,  she  had  looked  out  upon  the 
world  with  a  more  thoughtful  gaze.  She  did 
not  speak  of  the  sermon  ;  yet  her  husband  was 
certain  she  had  noted  every  point  which  might 
tell  against  him,  and  would  at  some  time  remind 


Right  at  Last.  JJ7 

him  of  them.  Lest  some  unwelcome  allusions 
might  now  be  made,  he  proposed  that  they  should 
sing  the  old-fashioned  hymns  Milly  had  learned 
at  her  uncle's. 

"  Do  you  know  them,  Nelly  ?"  he  asked,  enu 
merating  several  which  most  pleased  him. 

"Indeed  I  do,"  she  replied.  "I  could  sing 
most  of  them  before  I  could  talk  plainly ;  and 
we  have  sung  them  hundreds  of  times  in  our 
home.  We  sing  them,  too,  in  our  evening  meet 
ings,  so  they  are  familiar  to  me  as  household 
words." 

"  Do  you  go  to  church  in  the  evening  ?"  asked 
Milly. 

"  Not  to  church.  We  have  a  prayer-meeting 
Sabbath  evening,  and  our  family  always  go. 
Our  minister  depends  upon  us  for  the  singing." 

"  Is  your  minister  like  ours  ?" 

"  Not  at  all.  But  he  is  a  good  man  and  does 
his  best.  We  can't  pay  such  a  salary  as  churches 
pay  in  the  city  ;  and  father  says  it  is  right  that 
the  smartest  ministers  should  be  settled  in  the 
largest  places,  where  there  is  so  much  to  draw 
the  attention  of  people  from  religion." 


33s  All  for  Money. 

"  Your  father  is  a  good,  sensible  man,  if  he  is 
rny  brother." 

"  And  my  mother  is  as  good  and  sensible  as 
he  is." 

"  I  know  that,  Nelly.  Your  father  told  me  he 
always  consulted  her  about  everything  he  under 
took,  and  that  he  would  trust  her  judgment  be 
fore  he  would  his  own." 

"That  is  the  greatest  compliment  I  ever 
knew  a  man  to  give  his  wife,"  exclaimed  Milly, 
looking  earnestly  at  her  husband.  "  She  must 
be  very  different  from  most  of  the  women  I  have 
known,  and  she  is  certainly  very  different  from 
me." 

"  Yes,  very  different.  My  mother  was  never 
so  handsome  as  you  are.  Then  she  has  a  differ 
ent  experience  from  yours.  You  don't  know 
what  a  practical  woman  you  may  become. 
Uncle  Hermon  may  consult  with  you  the  same 
as  father  does  with  mother,  and  then  pay  you 
the  greatest  compliment  a  man  can  pay  his  wife." 

Not  for  many  a  month  had  the  merchant  been 
so  troubled  as  on  this  evening.  All  the  night 
through  he  was  painfully  conscious  that  he  had 


Right  at  Last. 


not  lost  entirely  his  sense  of  responsibility  for 
others.  He  arose  unrefreshed  ;  complaining  of  a 
headache  as  the  excuse  for  his  haggard  looks. 
He  went  to  his  store  with  vague  apprehensions 
of  impending  evil  ;  but  finding  everything  here 
as  usual,  soon  smiled  scornfully  at  his  foolish 
fancies. 

His  trials  for  the  day,  however,  were  not  yet 
over.  He  received  a  call  from  Rev.  Mr.  Melvin, 
the  preacher  he  so  much  admired.  To  say  that 
he  was  disconcerted  would  but  feebly  describe 
the  utter  confusion  of  his  thoughts  as  he  greeted 
the  unexpected  visitor.  His  first  impulse  was  to 
ask  the  reason  of  the  visit  ;  and  after  a  desultory 
conversation,  in  which  the  clergyman  bore  a 
prominent  part,  they  were  about  to  separate, 
when  Ally  Souther  came  into  the  counting-room 
he  had  never  before  entered. 

"  O  Mr.  Wyatt,  Mother  Souther  is  dreadfully 
sick,  and  she  wants  to  know  will  you  please  come 
and  see  her,"  exclaimed  the  boy  almost  breath 
lessly.  "  We've  had  the  doctor,  but  I'm  afraid 
she's  going  to  die." 

"  I  hope  not,  Ally,"  replied  his  friend,   laying 


All  for  Money. 


a  hand  lightly  upon  his  head.  "  I  will  go  over 
and  see  what  can  be  done.  Mr.  Melvin,  this  is 
one  of  your  parishioners,  Ally  Souther." 

"  I  recognized  him.  I  have  seen  him,  with 
another  larger  lad  every  Sabbath  I  have  preached 
here,  and  if  I  can  be  of  any  service,  I  should  be 
glad  to  go  with  you.'1 

"  Oh,  I  wish  you  would.  Mother  Souther  will 
be  so  glad  !"  exclaimed  AJly  impulsively. 

The  three  went  into  the  street  together,  and 
not  long  after  Hermon  Wyatt  was  standing  by 
the  bedside  of  the  sick  woman. 

"  This  is  my  last  sickness,"  she  said  in  a  husky 
voice.  "I've  lived  longer  than  I  expected  to. 
I  kept  up  for  the  boys'  sake,  but  it's  most  over 
now.  You'll  be  the  only  friend  they'll  have  to 
depend  upon  then.  You've  been  good  to  us  all. 
You've  been  the  best  friend  I've  ever  had  since  a 
good  while  before  my  husband  died. 

"  I  couldn't  do  anything  for  you,  only  pray  ; 
and  you'll  forgive  an  old  woman  like  me  who's 
on  her  death-bed.  I've  prayed  that  you  might 
be  a  true-hearted  Christian.  I  didn't  pray  for 
you  to  be  rich,  nor  great,  nor  honored  among 


Right  at  Last. 


men  ;  but  I  prayed  that  you  might  have  a  pure 
heart  and  clean  hands  in  God's  sight. 

"  O  Mr.  Wyatt,  if  I  could  say  something  that 
would  make  you  give  up  selling  the  cursed 
liquor  !  If  I  only  could,  I'd  be  willing  to  suffer  a 
great  deal.  How  can  you  do  it  ?  Don't  you 
know  it's  a  terrible  sin  against  God  and  man,  for 
which  you  must  give  account  in  the  day  of 
judgment  ?" 

The  voice  was  no  longer  husky.  These,  ques 
tions,  fearful  as  denunciations,  rang  out  in  clear, 
distinct  tones  ;  while  he  to  whom  they  were 
addressed  stood  speechless,  looking  into  the  face 
of  his  accuser.  He  had  been  judged  and  pro 
nounced  guilty. 

"  Mr.  Wyatt,  don't  you  know  you  are  commit 
ting  a  terrible  sin  ?" 

He  could  not  but  reply.  He  dared  no  longer 
keep  silence. 

"  Yes,  I  do  know  it,"  he  answered. 

The  words  were  spoken.  He  could  not  recall 
them  if  he  would.  To-morrow  he  might  wish  his 
tongue  had  been  palsied  ere  they  were  uttered  ; 
but  now  he  only  knew  that  all  disguises  had 


342  All  for  Money. 

been  torn  away,  and  he  confronted  with  his  own 
soul. 

"  Then  why  do  you  continue  in  sin  ?  Why  do 
you  ?  Is  it  for  money  ?" 

"  Yes,  for  money." 

He  had  not  intended  it.  He  was  hardly  aware 
that  his  lips  opened.  Yet  he  had  revealed  the 
inner  workings  of  his  life. 

"  Then  God  pity  you  !  And  my  boys  !  My 
boys  !  What  will  become  of  them  when  I  am 
gone  ?  Who  will  care  for  them  ?" 

"  I  will  care  for  them,  Mrs.  Souther." 

"  And  teach  them  to  be  such  as  you  are  :  to 
count  money  as  of  more  value  than  their  immor 
tal  souls  !  God  in  heaven,  hear  my  prayer,  and 
send  them  the  friend  they  need.  I  can  say  no 
more  to  you,"  she  added,  extending  her  hand  to 
the  man  before  her.  "  Forgive  me." 

"  I  have  nothing  to  forgive.  I  am  the  one  to 
ask  forgiveness.  You  have  only  done  your 
duty." 

"  May  God  give  you  grace  to  do  yours.  There's 
Davy's  step  on  the  stairs,  and  Ally  said  the 
minister  came  with  you.  I  should  be  glad  to  see 


Right  at  Last. 


him.  Maybe  he'll  care  a  little  for  my  boys  when 
they're  left." 

Davy  came  in  and  looked  tearfully  at  his  ben 
efactress,  while  he  pressed  his  lips  to  her  hand. 
He  knew  full  well  that  the  end  was  near  ;  that 
his  home  would  soon  be  broken  up  ;  and  he 
could  not  but  weep. 

In  an  adjoining  room  sat  Mr.  Melvin  with 
Ally,  whose  heart  he  had  already  won,  and  much 
of  whose  history  he  learned  during  the  short 
time  they  were  together.  When  he  saw  her  for 
the  first  time,  Mother  Souther  v/as  no  stranger 
to  him.  He  knew  so  much  of  her  character,  that 
he  was  assured  of  her  Christian  faith,  although 
she  was  able  to  speak  to  him  only  in  monosylla 
bles. 

"  Pray,"  she  whispered,  and  four  knelt  rever 
ently  around  her  bed,  while  a  prayer  was  offered, 
the  fervor  and  pathos  of  which  was  equalled  only 
by  its  simplicity. 

"  Thank  you,"  murmured  the  dying  woman. 
"  And,  sir,  will  you  have  a  thought  for  the  boys, 
when  they're  left  alone  ?" 

"  I  will." 


344 


All  for  Money. 


"  God  bless  you  for  the  promise." 
"  And  will  you  deal  faithfully  with   this   man, 
who  is  wronging  his  own  soul — for — money  ?" 
"  As  God  hears  me,  I  will." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


DECISION. 

OTHER  SOUTHER  died,  and  the  four 
\vho  had  knelt  around  her  bed  followed 
her  to  her  last  resting-place.  It  was 
only  the  burial  of  a  poor  woman  ;  but  no  more 
sincere  mourners  ever  looked  into  an  open  grave 
than  were  the  boys  who  had  called  her  mother. 
"  Being  dead,  she  yet  speaketh,"  said  Mr.  Mel- 
vin  to  the  man  at  his  side,  after  they  had  left  the 
carnage,  and  were  walking  arm-in-arm  through 
an  unfrequented  street.  "  I  was  surprised  into 
making  a  promise  I  shall  find  it  hard  to  redeem. 
I  have  prayed  for  you,  Mr.  Wyatt.  What  more 
can  I  do  ?" 

"  Whatever  you  feel  to  be  your  duty." 

"  It  is  never  a  man's  duty  to  injure  the  cause 


All  for  Money. 


he  wishes  to  serve,  or  make  an  enemy  of  one  he 
has  counted  a  friend." 

No  reply  was  made  to  this,  and  directly  the 
two  separated  ;  Mr.  Wyatt  going  to  his  home, 
where  he  found  a  new  order  of  things  established. 
Both  of  the  servants  had  given  unmistakable 
evidence  of  being  intoxicated,  and  retired  to  their 
room.  This  moved  Milly  to  make  an  investiga 
tion  of  the  kitchen,  with  its  closets  and  cupboards, 
when  a  state  of  things  was  revealed  which 
roused  her  to  a  sense  of  the  imposition  practiced 
upon  her. 

"  The  creatures  sha'n't  stay  in  the  house  an 
other  night,"  she  exclaimed.  "  We  will  go  with 
out  dinner,  before  we  will  eat  another  mouthful 
of  Bridget's  cooking.  To  think  of  her  and  Kate 
both  being  drunk  !  I  detest  dram-drinking  in 
any  one." 

"  And  I  detest  both  dram-drinking  and  drain- 
selltng"  responded  Nelly.  "  If  it  is  right  to 
sell  intoxicating  liquor,  it  is  right  to  drink  it  ; 
and  to  my  mind  the  seller  is  worse  than  the 
drinker." 

"  Hermon  sells  it." 


Decision. 


"  I  know  he  does,  but  it  is  a  wicked  thing  to 
do  for  all  that.  It  is  dishonorable  too." 

"  My  husband  is  not  dishonorable,"  replied 
Milly.  "  He  is  good  and  honorable." 

"  But  he  is  not  doing  a  good  and  honorable 
business.  I  don't  wish  to  find  fault  with  him, 
Milly  dear,  but  if  you  would  only  think  about  it, 
you  would  see  that  he  is  engaged  in  a  sinful  busi 
ness,  and  then  I  know  you  would  influence  him 
to  give  it  up.  Oh  !  if  you  only  would." 

"  Don't,  Nelly  !  Don't  talk  to  me  so  !  I  have 
thought  about  it,  and  since.  I  came  from  Uncle 
Russell's,  I've  known  we  weren't  living  as  we 
ought  to.  Are  you  a  Christian,  Nelly  ?" 

"  I  profess  to  be,  and  I  trust  I  am." 

"  I  wish  Hermon  and  I  were  Christians.  In 
deed  I  do,  Nelly." 

A  short  time  sufficed  to  rid  the  house  of 
drunken  servants  ;  and  this  done,  Nelly  Wyatt 
assumed  the  office  of  cook.  The  dinner  was  a 
success,  but  the  group  around  the  table  were  in 
no  mood  to  do  it  justice. 

Milly  inquired  in  regard  to  the  home  prospects 
of  Davy  and  Ally,  and  this  reminded  her  husband 


All  for  Money. 

of  what  had  transpired  at  the  death-bed  of  Mrs. 
Souther.  The  bo)'s  were  to  remain  where  they 
were  ;  arrangements  having  been  made  with  a 
neighbor  to  attend  to  their  wants. 

"  I  believe  I  have  done  the  best  I  can  for  them," 
said  their  friend.  "  They  are  good  boys,  and  if 
we  all  live,  I  shall  see  that  they  have  a  fair  start 
in  the  world.  I  should  like  to  have  their  busi 
ness  training  entirely  in  my  own  hands  ;  but  sit 
uated  as  I  am,  I  can  do  no  better  than  leave  them 
with  Mr.  Parkhurst." 

"  You  might  go  into  different  business,  Her- 
mon,  and  take  them  as  clerks.  Then  you  could 
have  them  all  to  yourself." 

Different  business  !  He  had  been  counting  the 
cost  of  such  a  change.  He  was  disinclined  to 
conversation,  even  with  his  petted  wife  ;  but  he 
could  not  long  resist  her  affectionate  appeals  ; 
and  surprised  to  find  how  entirely  she  sympa 
thized  with  him,  he  told  her  of  the  impression 
produced  by  the  sermon  of  the  preceding  Sabbath. 

"  I  thought  of  you,"  she  responded  sadly.  "I 
thought  it  would  seem  to  you  that  Mr.  Melvin 
had  singled  you  out  from  all  the  congregation." 


Decision. 


"  It  did  seem  so,  but  I  couldn't  blame  him.  I 
have  seen  the  time  when  I  denounced  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquor  in  as  severe  terms  as  it  is 
possible  to  use." 

"  Why  did  you  change  ?" 

"  Do  you  wish  me  to  tell  you  ?"  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  please  do,"  she  answered. 

"You  don't  quite  know  what  you  are  asking, 
and  a  week  ago  I  shouldn't  have  thought  of 
talking  to  you  of  my  business.  But  my  little 
wife  is  fast  developing  into  a  strong,  noble  wo 
man." 

"  O  Hermon,  do  you  think  so  ?" 

"  Yes,  darling,  I  do,  and  I  am  very  glad.  Now 
do  you  wish  to  hear  my  story  ?" 

"Every  word  of  it,"  was  the  emphatic  reply  to 
this  question. 

The  story  was  long,  and  there  were  many  in 
terruptions  ;  but  at  length  it  was  all  told  :  the 
struggles  with  conscience  ;  the  temptation  in 
which  a  laughing  girl  had  borne  so  large  a  part  ; 
the  final  surrender  ;  and  the  subsequent  endeavors 
to  forget  all  scruples  in  the  one  desire  to  accu 
mulate  wealth. 


All  for  Money. 


"  I  knew  I  could  never  win  you  without  money,' 
he  said,  for  the  second  time. 

"Perhaps  not,"  she  answered  hesitatingly. 
"  But  now  that  I  am  won,  I  am  willing  to  make 
any  sacrifice,  if  you  will  only  never  sell  another 
drop  of  liquor,  and  never  drink  it  either.  You 
have  drank  it  sometimes  lately." 

"  Yes,  darling.  I  would  not  have  believed  I 
should,  but  I  have  drank  it  oftener  than  you 
know,  and  it  is  time  for  me  to  give  that  up.  I 
will  do  it.  You  have  my  word,  and  you  may 
trust  me." 

"  And  the  selling  ?" 

"  I  can't  see  my  way  clear  about  that,  yet,  but 
I  will  try  to  do  what  is  right." 

Another  Sabbath  morning,  and  again  the  con 
gregation  assembled  to  hear  words  from  the 
preacher's  lips.  The  love  of  Christ  to  a  sinful 
world  was  the  theme  which  inspired  these  words  ; 
and  many  an  eye,  all  unused  to  weeping,  grew 
dewy  with  unshed  tears,  as  this  wondrous  love 
was  portrayed. 

"  For  you  and  me  the  Saviour  died.  For  you 
and  me  the  Saviour  lives.  For  the  richest  and 


Decision. 


the  poorest  ;  for  the  proudest  and  the  lowliest  ; 
for  the  king  upon  a  throne,  and  the  beggar  at 
the  gate,  our  Saviour  died,  arid  now  lives,  ever 
more  to  make  intercession  for  every  dweller 
upon  this  earth. 

"  It  is  for  you  to  accept,  or  reject  the  happi 
ness  his  blood  has  purchased.  It  is  offered  freely, 
but  it  is  only  offered.  It  will  never  be  forced 
upon  you.  You  can  turn  away  from  love  and 
mercy  if  you  will  ;  but,  remember,  my  friends, 
you  will  do  it  at  the  cost  of  your  soul's  salvation." 

It  was  fitting  that  thus  the  appeal  should  close  ; 
and  when  God's  blessing  had  been  invoked  to 
give  power  to  the  truth  spoken,  those  who  lis 
tened  felt  that  the  Holy  Spirit  was  in  their  very 
midst. 

The  preacher  sat  down,  and  covered  his  face 
with  his  hand  until  he  was  left  alone,  when  he, 
too,  went  out,  wondering  whither  his  steps  would 
be  led.  He  knew  that  Mr.  Wyatt  had  been 
deeply  moved,  and  he  hoped  that  the  time  was 
at  hand,  when  he  might,  without  offence,  press 
home  to  the  conscience  of  this  man  a  sense  of 
unforgiven  sin. 


352  All  for  Money. 

Strange  as  it  was,  he  was  hardly  surprised  to 
see  the  merchant,  with  the  ladies  of  the  family, 
present  in  the  evening.  Davy  and  Ally  came 
with  them,  and  Mr.  Melvin  could  not  but  observe 
them  closely.  After  the  benediction  was  pro 
nounced  he  hastened  to  speak  to  them. 

Mr.  Wyatt  met  him  with  even  more  than  usual 
cordiality  ;  and  as  they  were  going  in  the  same 
direction,  they  walked  on  together,  while  the 
other  members  of  the  party  left  them  far  behind. 
They  were  .talking  earnestly  when  they  reached 
the  house,  and  the  clergyman  was  invited  to 
enter. 

The  pride  of  the  host  was  broken  down.  The 
world  seemed  to  him  of  small  value,  compared 
with  the  worth  of  an  immortal  soul.  It  was  the 
first  time  he  had  ever  really  felt  his  accounta 
bility  to  God,  and  the  new  emotion  quite  over 
powered  him. 

Still  he  was  not  willing  to  make  a  full  surren 
der  of  himself,  asking  pardon  for  his  sins,  for 
Christ's  sake.  He  could  not  decide  to  give  up 
all  things,  that  he  might  secure  the  blessing  of 
God.  When  urged  to  do  so,  he  frankly  acknowl- 


Decision. 


edged  that  his  business  held  him  in  bondage. 
Another's  interests  were  involved  with  his  own, 
and  it  would  be  hard  to  extricate  himself  from 
the  difficulties  which  surrounded  him. 

"  No  one  can  decide  for  you,"  said  Mr.  Melvin 
at  a  late  hour  that  night.  "  The  matter  is 
between  you  and  God.  I  can  say  no  more.  Mr. 
Wyatt,  have  I  redeemed  my  promise  so  fully, 
that  I  shall  be  held  guiltless  in  the  day  of  judg 
ment,  if  your  soul  is  lost  ?" 

This  question  was  asked  solemnly,  and  as 
solemnly  answered. 

"  Mr.  Melvin,  come  what  may  to  me,  you  will 
be  guiltless." 

A  long,  searching  look,  each  into  the  eyes  of 
the  other,  and  they  parted. 

No  sooner  had  the  hall  door  closed,  than  Milly 
went  to  her  husband,  and  threw  herself,  sobbing, 
into  his  arms.  She  had  waited  so  long  and  so 
anxiously.  She  would  not  intrude,  but  she  could 
hardly  have  endured  more  protracted  suspense. 

"  O  Hermon,  tell  me  what  I  shall  do,"  she  ex 
claimed  through  blinding  tears.  "  I  have  been 
doing  wrong  all  my  life,  and  I  am  so  wretched." 


All  for  Money. 


He  comforted  her  as  best  he  could,  and  pres 
ently  her  sobbings  ceased.  After  a  little,  she 
raised  her  head  from  its  resting-place,  and  in 
a  tone  which  gave  startling  emphasis  to  her 
words,  said  :  "  That  store  will  drag  us  both 
down  to  perdition.  Do  give  it  up  !  We  can  live 
without  the  money  you  make  there,  but  we  can 
not  live  under  a  curse.  Why  didn't  I  think  of  it 
before  ?  I  don't  know  why  I  didn't." 

Monday  morning,  Hermon  Wyatt  was  debat 
ing  how  he  should  communicate  to  Mr.  Harvey 
his  half-formed  resolution  to  retire  from  his  pres 
ent  business,  when  he  received  a  telegram 
announcing  the  death  of  Mrs.  Legrew.  She  had 
died  suddenly,  without  warning  ;  and  everything 
else  was  forgotten  while  preparing  for  the  unex 
pected  journey. 

There  was  little  to  be  said  of  the  last  days  of 
this  woman.  She  had  lived  on,  sometimes  cheerful 
and  hopeful,  sometimes  sad  and  desponding  ; 
until  the  angel  of  death  called  her  away.  Her 
life  had  seemed  of  little  value,  and  yet  she  would 
be  missed  in  her  home.  She  was  mourned  by 
those  who  had  loved  her,  despite  her  faults  and 


Decision. 


follies  ;  and  who  trusted  that  some  ray  of  light 
from  the  Infinite  had  illumined  her  soul. 

Here  Mr.  Wyatt  met  his  partner,  and  while  a 
solemn  awe  pervaded  the  house,  he  sought  an  in 
terview  in  which  to  talk  of  business.  It  seemed 
ill-timed  to  the  elder  man  ;  yet  as  he  listen 
ed,  he  found  that  the  interests  of  another  world 
were  uppermost  in  the  mind  of  his  companion. 

''  It  is  a  matter  of  eternal  life  or  death  with 
me,"  said  the  latter,  after  a  short  conversation. 
"  When  I  accepted  your  offer,  I  acted  against 
my  strongest  convictions  of  duty.  Should  I  re 
new  my  contract  with  you,  I  verily  believe  I 
should  sign  the  death-warrant  of  my  soul.  I 
have  reached  a  point  where  I  must  choose  for 
eternity  ;  and  thank  God,  I  have  chosen.  I  have 
five  thousand  dollars  invested  outside  of  our 
business.  This  amount  I  shall  use  for  my  pres 
ent  benefit,  while  I  hold  myself  bound  to  give 
the  interest  to  further  the  cause  of  temperance  ; 
and  as  soon  as  I  can  consistently  do  so,  I  shall 
give  the  whole.  Everything  belonging  to  the 
store  I  shall  leave  in  your  hands,  to  be  disposed 
of  as  you  please.  I  want  no  part  in  it." 


3 $6  All  for  Money. 

"Is  this  decision  final  ?"  asked  Mr.  Harvey.    . 

"  It  is  final,"  was  the  emphatic  reply.  "  For  all 
your  kindness  I  thank  you.  I  found  the  greatest 
blessing  of  my  life  in  your  home,  and  I  have 
spent  many  happy  hours  there.  I  would  serve 
you  in  any  way  my  conscience  could  approve, 
but  I  will  be  a  poor  man  all  my  life  rather  than 
continue  in  my  present  business  a  day  longer 
than  I  am  holden  by  our  contract." 

"  And  Milly." 

"  She  is  of  the  same  mind.  She  was  first  to 
propose  giving  it  up." 

"  She  will  have  some  property  now." 

"  It  will  be  hers,  not  mine.  She  can  do  as  she 
pleases  with  it.  I  shall  start  in  my  old  business 
and  build  up  an  honest  trade.  My  wife  will  be 
satisfied  to  live  in  the  style  I  can  afford.  I 
know  she  will,  and  I  know  I  can  make  her 
happy." 

Never  had  Leander  Harvey  thought  more 
seriously  than  he  now  thought.  He  knew  not 
how  to  dispose  of  the  business  thus  suddenly 
thrown  upon  his  hands.  He  could  offer  no  in 
ducement  sufficient  to  retain  the  services  of  his 


Decision. 


piesent  partner;  and  he  was  far  from  cer 
tain  that  he  would  do  so  if  this  were  possi 
ble. 

Mrs.  Legrew  was  laid  to  rest  by  the  side  of 
her  husband  in  the  city  cemetery  ;  and  then  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wyatt  returned  to  their  home,  where 
Nelly  had  kept  the  fires  burning,  and  given  to 
Davy  and  Ally  Souther  glimpses  of  a  life  which 
seemed  to  them  well  nigh  like  heaven.  The 
next  day,  with  characteristic  energy,  the  gentle 
man  leased  a  store,  and  commenced  fitting  it  up 
for  the  trade  in  which  he  proposed  to  engage. 
He  made  arrangements  with  Mr.  Parkhurst  for 
the  services  of  the  boys,  whose  business  educa 
tion  he  could  now  safely  assume,  and  was  seldom 
seen  in  the  old  place,  where,  for  three  years,  he 
had  been  the  ruling  spirit. 

Mr.  Melvin  congratulated  him,  as  one  man  con 
gratulates  another  who  has  passed  a  fearful  or 
deal,  and  escaped  unharmed.  His  wife  cheered 
him  by  her  constant  sympathy,  and  would  gladly 
have  placed  her  property  at  his  disposal.  She 
joined  him  in  his  efforts  to  live  as  God  would 
have  them  ;  and  with  Nelly,  who  was  at  once 


All  for  Money. 


an  inspiration  and  an  assistant,  made  for  him 
such  a  home  as  no  money  can  purchase. 

Mr.  Reeves  bought  the  corner  store,  and  in 
process  of  time,  Mr.  Harvey  paid  to  his  former 
partner  the  sum  to  which  the  latter  was  entitled  ; 
which  sum  was  bestowed  upon  various  charities, 
with  the  prayer  that  it  might  be  the  means  of 
accomplishing  some  good,  to  atone  for  the  sin 
of  which  it  was  the  price. 

The  church  received  into  its  communion  two 
who  would  adorn  the  professions  they  made. 
The  new  enterprise  prospered,  and  the  cauae  of 
temperance  gained  a  zealous  advocate,  who  knew 
whereof  he  affirmed.  Those  with  whom  he  had 
been  associated  in  opposing  this  cause  yielded 
him  an  involuntary  respect,  even  while  they 
privately  sneered  at  his  fanaticism. 

At  the  close  of  a  twelve  month,  when  accounts 
were  settled,  Milly  Wyatt  was  surprised  to  find 
how  much  of  comfort  had  been  secured  at  com 
paratively  small  cost.  She  had  learned  from 
Nelly,  who  was  still  associate  housekeeper,  to 
make  the  best  of  what  she  possessed  ;  and  counted 


Decision. 


herself  rich  in  more  substantial  wealth  than  is 
represented  by  dollars  and  cents. 

"Cousin  Naomi"  was  now  "Aunt  Naomi;" 
the  happy  wife  of  a  man  who,  in  the  autumn  of 
his  days  was  binding  himself  to  life  with  ties  the 
habits  of  his  youth  had  denied  him. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey  regarded  him  with  some 
thing  like  wonder  ;  and  yet  they  felt  their  social 
position  elevated  by  relationship  to  one  whose 
wealth  won  for  him  the  consideration  of  those 
who  would  have  refused  it  to  his  goo.dness  and 
intelligence. 

"  Here  is  a  notice  of  Dan  Esterbrook's  death," 
he  said  to  his  brother  in-law,  laying  down  the 
paper  he  had  been  perusing,  while  the  two  were 
seated  in  his  library. 

"  The  world  is  rid  of  a  black-hearted  villain," 
was  the  quick  reply.  "  How  about  the  wrongs, 
you  once  told  me  he  must  right  before  he  died  ?" 

"  I  intended  to  force  a  confession  from  him 
which  would  free  other  parties  from  suspicion, 
but  I  found  nothing  would  be  gained  by  it,  and  I 
was  unwilling  to  meet  him.  The  paper  says  he 
has  left  the  bulk  of  his  immense  fortune  in  the 


360  All  for  Money. 

hands  of  trustees  for  the  benefit  of  his  wife,  who 
has  been  in  an  insane  asylum  the  last  three 
months.'' 

"No  wonder  she  is  insane.  I  hope  the  im 
mense  fortune  will  restore  her  to  reason.  It 
ought  to  do  some  good,  now  he  is  out  of  the  way. 
He  sold  his  soul  for  money,  and  the  final  transfer 
of  property  has  been  made  before  this.  There 
was  never  anything  good  about  him,  but  if  he 
had  cared  less  for  money,  he  could  hardly  have 
been  so  bad  as  he  was." 

"The  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  much  evil, 
Brother  Harvey,  and  the  meanness  men  will 
practice  in  order  to  obtain  it  is  almost  past 
belief.  Dan  Esterbrook,  at  one  time,  sold  whis 
key  by  the  gill,  peddling  it  from  flasks  he  carried 
in  his  pockets.  He  manufactured  whiskey,  too, 
in  holes  not  fit  for  a  human  being  to  stay  in,  and 
from  material  a  hungry  beast  would  reject.  First 
and  last,  I  believe  he  has  made  more  money  from 
the  sale  of  liquor  than  almost  any  other  man  in 
the  country,  and  you  know  I  consider  that  an 
accursed  business." 

"I  know  you  do,  Brother  Parsons,  and  I  must 


Decision.  j6i 

confess  that  I  look  upon  it  differently  from  what 
I  did  a  few  years  ago,  although  I  am  hardly 
ready  to  join  the  ranks  of  the  ultra  prohibitionists. 
I  still  believe  in  a  well-regulated  license  law." 

"  Brother  Harvey,  you  know,  and  every  intelli-" 
gent  man  and  woman  knows,  that  where  the 
experiment  has  been  made,  license  has  encour 
aged  and  fostered  the  trade.  It  has  protected  it, 
intrenched  it  in  the  strongholds  of  the  govern 
ment,  and  given  it  a  nominal  place  among 
laudable  industries.  I  know  I  am  talking  strong 
ly,  but  honestly.  Don't  you  believe  that  our 
country  would  be  more  prosperous  if  all  intoxi 
cating  liquors  were  banished  from  the  land,  and 
the  money  now  paid  for  them  was  spent  for  food, 
clothing,  good  houses,  and  good  books  ?" 

"  Yes,  Brother  Parsons,  I  do  believe  we  should 
be  infinitely  more  prosperous.  I'll  not  stultify 
myself  by  denying  it." 

"  And  don't  you  believe  that  a  stringent  pro 
hibitory  law,  as  faithfully  executed  as  other  laws 
upon  our  statute  books,  would  tend  to  thn 
result  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  think  it  would." 


362 


All  for  Money. 


"  Then,  in  the  name,  and  for  the  sake  of  all  that 
is  good,  and  pure,  and  holy,  let  us  give  our  in 
fluence  for  prohibition.  Let  us  pray  for  it,  work 
for  it,  and  vote  for  it." 


For  Sunday-School  Libraries, 


THE  National  Temperance  Society  and  Publication  House 
have  published  Eighty-seven  Books  specially  adapted  to  Sun- 
ilay-school  Libraries,  which  have  been  carefully  examined  and 
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At  Lion's  Mouth  $1  25    Esther  Maxwell's  Mistake  $1  00 

Adopted 60    Fanny  Percy's  Knight  Er- 


Andrew  Douglass 75 

Aunt  Dinah's  Pledge 1  25 


rant 1  00 

Fatal  Dower,  The 60 


Alice  Grant 1  25  i  Fire  Fighters,  The 125 

All  for  Money 1  25  |  Fred's  Hard  Fight 1  25 


Brewery  at  Taylorville,  The  1  50 

Barford  Mills 1  00 

Best  Fellow  in  the  World, 

The 1  25 

Broken  Rock,  The 50 

Brook,  and  the  Tide  Turn 
ing,  The 1  00 

Brewer's  Fortune,  The 1  60 

Come  Home,  Mother 50 

OoalsofFire    .  100 


Frank    Spencer's   Rule   of 

Life 50 

Frank   Oldfield;    or,   Lost 

and  Found  1  60 

Gertie's  Sacrifice 60 

Glass  Cable,  The...    128 

Harry  the  Prodigal 1  38 

History  of  a   Threepenny 

Bit 75 

Hard  Master,  The 85 


C  arse  of  Mill  Valley,  The . .  1  25  ^  Harker  Family,  The 1  25 

Drinking  Fountain  Stories.  1  00    History  of  Two  Lives,  The.      50 

Dumb  Traitor,  The 125    Hopedale    Tavern,    and 

Eva's  Engagement-Ring. . .      90  i        What  it  Wrought 1  00 

Echo  Bank 86  '  Hole  in  the  Bag,  The 100 


FOR   SUNDAY-SCHOOL   LIBRARIES. 


How  Could  He  Escape  P $125    Piece  of  Silver,  A f  51 

Humpy  Dumpy 125    Pitcher  of  Cool  Water 50 

Image  Unveiled,  The 1  00    Queer  Home  in  Rugby 

Jewelled  Serpent,  The 1  00  j        Court,  The....    1  50 


John  Bentle>  's  Mistake  —      50 

Job  Tufton's  Rest 1  25 

Joe's  Partner 50 

Jugr-or-Not 1  25 

Little  Girl  in  Black 90 

Life  Cruise  of  Captain  Bess 

Adams,  The  1  50 

McAllisters,  The 50 

Mill  and  the  Tavern,  The. .  1  25 

Model  Landlord,  The 60 

More  Excellent  Way,  A.. . .  1  00 
Mr.  Mackenzie's  Answer...  1  25 
National  Temperance  Ora 
tor,  The 1  00 

Nettie  Loring-  1  25 

Norman  Brill's  Life- Work.  1  00 

Nothing  to  Drink 1  50 

Old  Times 1  25 

Our  Coffee-Room 1  00 

Old  Brown  Pitcher,  The —  1  00 

Out  of  the  Fire 1  25 

OurParish 75 

Packing-ton  Parish.. .     1  25 

Paul  Bre water  and  Son —  1  00 
Philip  Eckert's   Struggles 
and  Triumphs 60 


Rachel     Noble's     Experi 
ence  9C 

Red  Bridge,  The 9C 

Rev.   Dr.  Willoughby  and 

his  Wine 1  50 

Ripley  Parsonage 1  25 

Roy's  Search;  or,  Lost  in 

theCars 125 

Saved 1  25 

Silver  Castle 1  25 

Seymours,  The 100 

Strange  Sea  Story,  A 150 

Temperance  Doctor, The...  1  25 
Temperance  Speaker,  The.     75 

Temperance  Anecdotes 1  00 

Time  Will  Tell 1  00 

Tim's  Troubles...  160 

Tom    Blinn's   Temperance 

Society. 1  25 

Ten  Cents 1  25 

Vow  atthe  Bars 40 

Wealth  and  Wine 1  25 

White  Rose,  The 128 

Wife's  Engagement-Ring. .  1  25 


Work  and  Reward. 
Zoa  Rodman 


50 
1  OC 


Either  of  the  above  will  be  sent  by  mail,  post-paid,  on  receipt  of  price. 

Address    J,  N,  STEAENS,  Publishing  Agent, 

58  Beade  Street,  New  York. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


.9-Series  444 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


A    001  376021    o 


PS 

1292 

C39a 


